Download Gloriosa Rothschildiana

Gloriosa
rothschildiana
Gloriosa lilies, otherwise known as the
climbing lily or flame lily, are high fashion
flowers.
Gloriosa lily tubers are hardy in zones nine
and higher. In cooler climates the bulbs
will need to be dug up in fall after full
dormancy and stored in potting medium
over the winter. Gloriosa lily tubers
cannot handle a freeze, either in storage
or down to bulb depth during their
growing cycle. In northern locations store
them well above freezing through the
winter and plant again in the spring with
warmer temperatures.
Gloriosa lily tubers are a relative to the lily family and therefore require high light levels
and warm temperatures to grow, flower, and bulk up for the following season. It is
important to have well draining soil media as tubers will not survive wet, water-logged
soils.
Gloriosa lily tubers are forked, with two legs, however, they are generally sold as a single
leg. Each leg of the tuber produces only one growth point, so be careful not to damage it!
Tubers should be planted horizontally (lying flat) with the growing tip 2-3 inches
below the surface. Because Gloriosa lilies are a vine they require something to climb or
attach to. This can include a trellis, fence, or arbor. The vine attaches itself by curling the
tips of its leaves around the support, but you will probably find that you’ll want give it
extra support by tying it up with string. A larger tuber produces a taller plant and more
flowers.
The vine will produce a number of branches during the season, usually in groups of three.
Do not snip off any part of the vine’s new growth trying to encourage additional
branching. Any part that is cut off or broken will simply stop growing and will not
produce additional flowers. As a consolation prize, however, it will encourage greater
tuber growth for the next year.
By the completion of its growing season the plant produces another forked tuber while
the original shrivels up. So each mother Gloriosa tuber produces a new tuber that is
forked and has 2 growing points, this doubling in number each year. The forked tuber
may be cut at the apex or planted as-is next season.