Gloriosa Lily

Claim this listing

General Description/History

Gloriosa is a truly spectacular flower with 6 red petals with yellow scalloped edges that reflex upwards, combined with clear green leaves each ending in a tightly curled tendril.

Flowers are sold either individually or as branches which contain an open flower and several buds. Buds open well in the vase but a preservative is needed to obtain full colour. They are very fragile flowers and are sometimes sold in clear plastic ‘balloons’ with the stem ends in small flasks of water. All parts of this plant are poisonous, so take care!

Gloriosa is a relatively recent cut flower, and is now grown in glasshouses in Holland and Africa. In Australia it is grown mainly in Victoria.

What to look for

  • Open flowers should have strong red and yellow colours;
  • Branches should have 1 or 2 open flowers and buds showing colour;
  • No signs of petal damage or creases;
  • Avoid flowers or leaves with black marks – these are a sign of chilling injury.

Flower Care

  1. Never refrigerate – they are tropical.
  2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem.
  3. Be careful separating stems as the tendrils can coil tightly around flowers and each other. You can cut these off if you wish.
  4. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs and place in water immediately.
  5. Preservative is essential – the sugar contained within a preservative will help buds to open and colour up.
  6. Replace water every day.
  7. Limp individual flowers can be revived by submerging them in lukewarm water for a few minutes.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

This lily was named after Baron Z.W. Rothschild, an authority on birds, who brought the flower from Africa and entered it at an exhibition of the English Horticultural Society in the early 1900’s.

Gloriosa is the national flower of Zimbabwe.

Gloriosa superba has escaped from gardens in the Sunshine Coast and is a weed in the Noosa National Park.

Botanical Name: Gloriosa rothschildiana, G. superba

Common Names: Flame Lily, Gloriosa, Glory Lily, Rothschild Lily

Stem Length: 30 to 100 cm

Country of Origin: Tropical Africa: Zimbabwe

Available Colours: Red

Season: Summer,Autumn,Spring

Availability: January,February,March,April,November,Decemeber