Clivia miniata and other species for the UK garden

Clivia have been a very popular plant in the english garden and conservatory for nearly 200 of years.

Named after Lady Charlotte Florentia Clive, Duchess of Northumberland in 1828 by botanist John Lindley. Clivia miniata specimens were sent from South Africa to botanical institutions and private collecors

Clivia or clivias make a great indoor or garden plant, they love shade and as they can tolerate dry conditions once they have become established, they can be regarded as a drought tolerant plant.

These plants do not like to be planted in heavy soil, many growers use an aerated potting mixture such as perlite or composted pine bark mulch. In the ground, again they need good drainage. Look out for for Clivia Robusta, a giant clivia.

Clivia Miniata Plant Profile
Sometimes refered to as the 'Kaffir Lily' and is one of the most popular of the clivia sp.. The orange clivia miniata is probably the most common clivia in the UK. With flowers that point upwards, they thrive in the shade. Lots of new colours are available (see picture top right) from breeders, yellows, peaches, apricots, peaches and pale green. Breeders are working on a white clivia miniata, if you see a white one let us know.

Clivia Nobilis Plant Profile
The first clivia species to be described. Named after Lady Clive, Duchess of Northumberland. Dark orange pendulous tubular flowers with green tips, varying from pinkish yellow to dark red . Flowering late autumn to spring.

Clivia Gardenii Plant Profile
Flowering from autumn to late winter. Orange-red flowers with green tips, flowers varying from yellowish to a browny red. Flowers are more curved and not as pendulous as those of Caulescens and Nobilis.

Clivia Caulescens Plant Profile
Flowers spring to summer. Tubular flowers with flower heads being smaller than those of C.miniata.

Clivia x Nimbicola Plant Profile
Nimbicola means 'dweller in the mist' so maybe this gives us a clue to its natural habitat. This species habit of flowering erraticaly throughout the year relects on its parents C. miniata and C. caulescens. Flowers range from pastel orange to light pink.