Clivia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants native to southern Africa in the Amaryllis (onion) family. The vibrant orange to reddish flowers makes this bulb stand out. It is commonly used as a houseplant but can be mass planted outdoors in mild climates along a border or walkway. When grown as container plants, give it bright light indoors but mostly shady outdoors. For proper flowering, keep in a lighted area at 50-60 degrees F in the fall or early winter and withhold water and fertilizer to allow a rest period. This plant tolerates drought well. It prefers to be root-bound and can stay in the same pot for 3- 5 years. Allow the plant to dry slightly between waterings and fertilize monthly during the active growing period. Plant bulbs 6"-12" apart at a depth of 1". Clivias can take 3-5 years to bloom from seed so it is best to buy a mature plant. Quick ID Hints: Leaves are dark green, thick, and strap-like. Leaves are glossy with a leathery texture. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Overwatering can cause crown rot. Overhead watering can cause leaf diseases such as rust. It can be difficult to propagate
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheAgastache 'Blue Fortune'Echinacea purpurea PowWow® Wild Berry 'PAS702917'Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb
Life cycle
Bulb
USDA zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Strappy long sword-like leaves arise from the bulb opposite from each other and are up to 2 feet long and 4 inches wide. They can be green to variegated.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Bell; Cup; Funnel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Yellow to orange to almost red cup to bell to funnel-shaped flowers in clusters called umbrels. The flowers are showy and can occur in clusters held in the foliage or held above the foliage. Different varieties bloom at different times
Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.