It does well in various levels of light and a wide range of soils.
The plant is highly toxic to humans and animals.
Due to this invasive potential, you might consider growing it only in containers.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Light
Gloriosa lily grows infull sun to partial shade.
Shadier conditions might reduce flowering.
Soil
The soil should be rich and provide excellent drainage.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Sandy or loamy soil are best.
To enrich the soil, amend it withorganic matter.
Gloriosa lily grows well in neutral to slightlyacidic soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Gloriosa lily needs even moisture during the growing season from spring to fall.
As a garden plant, it will do best in similar circumstances.
Gloriosa lily does not do well in hot, arid climates.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
There are also several named cultivars of gloriosa lily that offer flower variations.
Propagating Gloriosa Lily
Gloriosa lily is grown from tuberous roots, which remain dormant during the winter.
These tubers can be lifted and divided to propagate new plants.
Gloriosa superba ‘Rothschildiana’Whitepointer / Getty Images
Such division should done no more than every three years or so.
Here’s how to do it.
After two or three years, they should reach flowering maturity.
Use a pot with drainage holes and a commercial peat-based potting mix for your growing medium.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not wet.
Container-grown gloriosa lilies need more frequent feeding (twice a month) than garden-grown plants.
Overwintering
In cold-winter regions, gloriosa lily is grown as an annual.
How Long Does Gloriosa Lily Bloom?
Mature gloriosa lily plants will usually bloom robustly for several weeks.
Each blossom lasts for several days and cut flowers will survive in a vase for about a week.
What Does Gloriosa Lily’s Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The showy flowers of the gloriosa lily are cup-shaped with prominent green stamens that spread outward.
The petals are typically dark red with a yellow base and a brighter yellow around the edge.
Blooms range from 3 to 6 inches in size and can be nodding or open upwards.
Excessive fertilizer can cause the plant to put more energy into foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Monthly feeding with a diluted fertilizer is enough to promote more blooms.
This will also encourage the plant to bloom more.
If you find the leaves are browning and are brittle to the touch, the plant is too dry.
Increase watering, taking care not to oversaturate the plant.
Gloriosa lily makes a good outdoor potted plant for a sunny patio or deck.
In the garden, it makes an excellent short climber against a wire trellis.
Dividing the tubers also offers an opportunity to create new plants.
The genus has about 12 species, of which several are cultivated as garden plants.
In addition toGloriosa superba, you’re able to find bothG.
luteasold as garden plants, all labeled as gloriosa lilies.
All three species are grown and cared for in the same way.
Gloriosa Lily, Gloriosa Superba.
Gloriosa Lily.National Gardening Association.
- Weekly What is it?
Gloriosa Lily.University of Florida.
North Carolina State University Extension.
