Flame lily: planting, care & overwintering gloriosa lilies

The flame lily is a climbing lily species that is equally beautiful and poisonous. Therefore, despite the impressive petals, it is considered a rather unconventional houseplant.

The flame lily (Gloriosa superba), or gloriosa lily, is a poisonous potted plant or houseplant that can also be used as a cut flower. It impresses with its flame-like, red flowers, which is why it is also called splendour lily. It belongs to the timeless family (Colchicaceae) and is related to the lantern lily, among others.

Flame lily: origin and properties

Flame lilies come from Africa and Asia’s tropical rainforests, thickets and mountains, among other places. In Europe, the gloriosa lily adorns homes and gardens as a houseplant or potted plant. As a cut flower, it also comes into its own in bouquets.

The flame lily lives up to its name because its flower shape resembles a blazing crown. The fiery red petals resemble dancing flames and end in a yellow throat. The flowering period of the splendour lily lasts throughout the growing season. As long as it is bright, moist and warm, flowers are formed. After flowering in summer, the plant retreats into the ground in autumn. At temperatures below 18 °C, nutrients and reserve substances are shifted from the plant organs above ground to the underground storage organs, the so-called rhizomes. Thus, it also survives the dry season in Africa and Asia. The rhizome is frost-hardy down to a maximum of -9 °C. As an indoor plant, temperatures below 18 °C are often not reached, so the flame lily remains evergreen in exceptional cases. The gloriosa lily is a climbing plant and therefore requires a climbing support or trellis. Leaf tendrils spring from the tip of the glossy green, bordered leaves, with which it climbs. If there is no climbing support, the lily continues to grow as a creeper. In total, it can reach lengths of one to two metres.

Tip: The flame lily is good to use as a cut flower. Its individual flowers can be kept for a long time; only the flower stalk is fragile. Therefore, it should be handled with special care.

Growing flame lilies

Successfully cultivating the regal-looking lily is not as elaborate as its luxurious appearance might suggest. Below you will learn what to look for when planting flame lilies.

Planting gloriosa lilies

To plant flame lilies as a houseplant or potted plant, you should first choose a suitable planter. This should not be too small, so that the storage organs can spread under the ground. In addition, the pot should have a drainage hole for watering because the lily does not tolerate waterlogging. To avoid waterlogging, a drainage layer should also be added so that excess water can drain away more easily. To do this, fill about two to three centimetres of the vessel with drainage material such as shards of clay or expanded clay. Then, fill the rest of the vessel with substrate. A loose, nutrient-rich garden soil, which is also water-permeable, offers optimal characteristics for growth. Alternatively, you can use a suitable potting soil with these same properties. A peat-free variant, such as our Plantura Organic Flower Compost, is particularly sustainable. This consists of purely vegetable ingredients and is therefore also harmless to all pets and garden animals. The rhizome can then be inserted into the soil about three centimetres deep.

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Inserting the rhizome

The root is inserted transversely so that the small buds point upwards. The soil should be pressed extremely carefully so as not to damage the buds. Large rhizomes can also be divided so that each section has at least one bud. This gives you several plants for the same price.

Important: Be sure to use gloves whenever gardening with the flame lily because the plant is highly toxic!

Gloriosa superba: location

The Gloriosa superba is cultivated in planters in our country either indoors only or also outdoors during the summer. The plant should be placed in a sunny place, but protected from the wind. But be careful: in direct sunlight, the heat will damage the leaves. As an exotic plant, the flame thrives particularly well at temperatures of 17 to 22 °C, and these should be kept as constant as possible. In addition, in its native habitat, it is accustomed to a humidity of 50-60%, so placing it by the radiator is not ideal. You should use a climbing aid from the beginning because the shoots appear late in the year, but then grow very rapidly. To achieve a dense growth of the trellis, the vines can be tied in a circle.

Tip: Ever wonder why the flame lily is usually only available for sale as a rhizome, not as a plant? The rhizomes are easier to transport and store than adult plants. It also minimises the risk of damage to the somewhat fragile gloriosa lily.

Flame lily care

In order for Gloriosa superba to thrive, it must be sufficiently fertilised in addition to proper watering. The substrate should be kept moderately moist at all times and never dry or soggy. Ideally, the plant should be watered from the top twice a week, but check more often to see if additional watering is needed on particularly hot weeks. It is also recommended to additionally spray the leaves and flowers with lukewarm and lime-free water on these days to increase the humidity. Complementary humidifiers can be placed in the apartment or greenhouse.
To support the growth and flower formation, fertilise once a week during the growing season from March to September. The nitrogen content is especially important for growth, which allows the rapid growth of flame lily shoots. Liquid fertilisers that ensure efficient distribution of nutrients are suitable for weekly application. Our Plantura Liquid Flower Food, for example, contains the most important nutrients and is pleasantly odourless due to the absence of animal ingredients.

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Tip: When the plant begins to store nutrients and storage substances in the rhizome, it becomes yellow and unsightly. It should then be neither watered nor fertilised. Once the flame lily has completely dried, the relocation is complete. Only then should leaves and stems be removed. In spring, leaf aphids like to attack young shoots. To avoid this, you should regularly check the shoots and undersides of the plant leaves for these creatures. When doing this, again make sure to wear gloves, otherwise redness may appear on the hands. Additionally, the aphid’s natural enemies can be encouraged with deadwood corners or insect hotels. If it is too wet in the summer, the climbing lily is also susceptible to root rot. Therefore, always make sure that the planting soil is not too wet.

Propagation

After the plant has shed its leaves, the flame lily can be propagated. To do this, simply dig up the rhizome in autumn or spring, divide with a knife and replant as already described. Each rhizome piece should have at least one bud. Do not forget to wear gloves at all times.
Propagation by seed is also possible, but they have a strong inhibition to germinate. It can take over a year before the seed begins to germinate. Therefore, this method of propagating gloriosa lilies is recommended only to patient gardeners.

Overwintering flame lilies

To overwinter the plant, the root bulb can remain in the pot and placed at a temperature of 10 °C. Do not fertilise or water during this period. Just before the new shoots appear in March, it is necessary to repot the tuber in fresh substrate. Replant the rhizome at a depth of 3 cm and the plant will reappear in all its glory after 6 to 8 weeks with adequate watering and fertilisation.

Is the flame lily poisonous?

All plant components of the plant are highly toxic. In particular, its root bulb contains so-called colchicine, a poisonous alkaloid. If you notice symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort, you should seek medical attention immediately. Colchicine ingestion can be fatal.

Caution: Ingestion of Gloriosa superba plant parts can be fatal. It is unsuitable as a houseplant for families with children.

The autumn crocus belongs – just like the flame lily – to the timeless plants. In our article you will learn how to recognise, plant and care for autumn crocus in the garden and whether they are simply magically beautiful or also poisonous.