Bush lily

Sun

Partial to full shade outdoors; bright, indirect light indoors. Protect from strong midday and afternoon sun.

Water

Water moderately during active growth, allowing the surface to dry between waterings. Keep much drier during the cool winter rest, but do not let the roots shrivel.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil. In containers, use a free-draining potting mix with added bark or perlite; avoid oversized pots and standing water.

Height

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m), including flower stems

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) per mature clump

Flowers

Usually late winter to spring; clusters of orange trumpet-shaped flowers, often with yellow throats. Yellow-flowered forms are also available.

Foliage

Evergreen. Broad, dark green, strap-shaped leaves arranged in overlapping fans.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.6 ft (0.49 m)

5. After 5 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Water thoroughly during active growth, then let the surface dry before watering again; empty pot saucers.
• Apply a balanced liquid feed at half strength about monthly during spring and summer.
• Give established plants a cool, relatively dry winter rest to encourage flowering; keep container plants frost-free.
• Repot after flowering only when roots crowd the container heavily, usually every three to four years; keep the crown above the potting mix.
• Divide congested clumps after flowering, retaining several healthy leaves and roots on each division.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems near the base after flowering unless you want berries or seed. Remove dead or badly damaged leaves at the base, but leave healthy foliage intact.

Late winter

Watch for emerging flower stems and gradually increase watering as growth resumes.

Spring

Begin light feeding and water regularly without leaving the roots saturated.

Late spring

After flowering, remove spent stems and repot or divide only if needed.

Summer

Keep plants shaded from strong sun and check leaf bases for mealybugs.

Autumn

Stop feeding, reduce watering and move containers under cover before frost.

Winter

Keep resting container plants in a bright, cool position, ideally around 45-55°F (7-13°C), with sparse watering.

• Plant beneath high tree canopies in frost-free gardens for bold evergreen foliage and spring colour.
• Group in shaded courtyards with ferns and cast-iron plants for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use a substantial container beside a sheltered entrance, moving it indoors where winters are cold.
• Repeat clumps along shaded paths or walls for a consistent, architectural foliage edge.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Tropical, Architectural minimal, Modern courtyard, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Cast-iron plant, Bird's nest fern, Mondo grass, Liriope and Bromeliads.

Wildlife: Flowers can provide pollen and nectar to visiting insects. Birds may eat the ripe berries in suitable climates; it is not a major wildlife planting outside its native range.

• Mealybugs hide between leaf bases and around roots: isolate affected pots, remove visible insects and use a labelled treatment if necessary.
• Slugs and snails chew leaves and flowers: inspect after dark, remove hiding places and use barriers or an appropriate bait.
• Root rot develops in waterlogged soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and remove rotted roots before repotting in fresh mix.
• Failure to flower often follows insufficient light, a warm winter without a resting period, or recent division: provide bright indirect light and a cool, drier winter, then allow time to re-establish.

Toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses. All parts contain toxic alkaloids, with particularly high concentrations in the thickened base and roots; berries are also unsafe. Poisoning commonly causes vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling, and larger amounts can cause serious illness. Seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Drooping clivia (Clivia nobilis)

  Its flowers are narrow, hanging tubes, usually with green tips, rather than the broad, open trumpets of bush lily.

• Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrids)

  It grows from a conspicuous bulb and carries fewer, much larger trumpet flowers; bush lily forms persistent fans of leaves above thick, fleshy roots.

• African lily (Agapanthus species)

  It usually has narrower leaves and rounded heads of many blue or white flowers on taller stalks, rather than orange flowers above broad leaf fans.

Clivia honours Charlotte Clive, Duchess of Northumberland, while miniata means vermilion-coloured, referring to the flowers.

Propagation. Separate rooted offsets after flowering; divisions may take a season or more to flower again. Sow fresh seed after removing the berry pulp, keeping it warm and lightly moist; seedlings commonly take several years to bloom and may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Clivia miniata

Native range

Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces and Swaziland.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.