Gloriosa superba Rothschildiana seeds - Glory lily

Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana', also known as the Gloriosa Lily or Malabar Lily, can be grown from seed. This climbing plant is remarkable for its vividly coloured red and yellow flowers. Native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, this exotic plant dislikes frost and winter moisture. Grown in pots or in the ground in very mild climates, it uniquely decorates trellises.

Belonging to the Colchicaceae family, Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana' is a relative of autumn crocuses. 'Rothschildiana' is a variety selected for its superior ornamental qualities compared to the species. Native to sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the species grows naturally in various habitats, including forests, thickets, meadows, and even dunes, demonstrating great adaptability to nutrient-poor soils. The 'Rothschildiana' Gloriosa Lily is a climbing plant that can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 m in cultivation, though in its natural habitat, it may climb up to 4 m. Its flexible stems cling to supports using tendrils at the tips of its leaves. The leaves are lanceolate, glossy green, and between 13 and 20 cm in length. From June to August-September, it reveals spectacular flowers 6 to 10 cm in diameter. The wavy, bright red tepals with yellow edges curve backwards, exposing prominent stamens. The flowers hold up very well in vases. The fruit is an elongated capsule containing red seeds. After summer flowering, the stems and leaves dry out in autumn, marking a period of dormancy during which the plant stores nutrients in its underground tuber. All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, particularly the tubers rich in colchicine.

Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana' thrives in warm, sunny locations, in humus-bearing soil that is slightly moist in summer but dry in winter. It grows best in a temperate greenhouse, and a summer spell outdoors will encourage beautiful flowering. However, garden cultivation is possible provided you treat it like cannas, digging up and storing the bulbs in autumn. This is an eccentric, charming plant that you can place alongside passionflowers or black-eyed Susans, for example.