Major Garden’s Clivia (Clivia gardenii)

Major Garden’s Clivia (Clivia gardenii) is a subtle and delicately pretty sister to the well known Clivia miniata (Bush Lily) which has been in cultivation for many years. Where the Bush Lily has a head of trumpet-shaped flowers, Major Garden’s Clivia has slender, tubular flowers which hang downwards in the inflorescence. The flowers are orange in colour, the petals tipped with green. Like all Clivia, Major Garden’s Clivia grows in the shade of forests and is a clump forming perennial plant which, although slow growing, can attain a great age. The clumps reach up to 60 cm in height.

Flowering occurs from April until June. Bright red fleshy berries follow the flowers and are eaten by birds.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Liliopsida
Order : Asparagales
Family : Amaryllidaceae
Genus : Clivia
Species : Clivia gardenii

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ay) - The Amaryllis family, named for a shepherdess in Greek mythology, means sparkling.
• Clivia (KLY-vee-uh) - Named for Lady Charlotte Flornetina Clive, 18th century Duchess of Northumberland.
• gardenii (gar-DEN-ee-eye) - Named for Dr. Alexander Garden, 18th century Scottish physician and botanist.

Common Names:

• Major Garden’s Clivia

Links:

• Clivia Society - Major Garden’s Clivia
• Plantz Africa - Major Garden’s Clivia

Image Courtesy of David Midgley.