Gloriosa carsonii - Glory lily

Gloriosa Carsonii is a variety of Malabar Lily that is quite rare, with a contrasting two-tone flowering, purple bordered with yellow. This climbing tuberous plant lives up to its other name, Superb Malabar, which evokes the tropical splendours of this ancient African province. In summer, it produces strange flowers with a spider-like grace, with wavy petals that stand upright towards the sky. This exotic flowering stands out from its luxuriant foliage of long, thick, dark green and glossy leaves, further emphasizing its uniqueness. It requires a sunny exposure, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil. It is essential to keep Gloriosa dry during winter.

Gloriosa Carsonii belongs to the Lily family. The flower of the Gloriosa, the emblem of Mozambique, highlights its African origins, although it is also found naturally growing in the tropical forests of South India. This herbaceous climber develops from a fleshy and elongated, light-coloured tubercle in a brown skin. At one end, a round and pink bud develops, which will grow a very flexible twisting stem. It can reach 1.50 m (5ft) high if the conditions are met and completes its growth in one season. The flowers appear in early summer on 2-year-old bulbs and older, in the form of large flowers (8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long) reminiscent of lilies with tapered petals completely turned towards the sky with very wavy edges. The stamens and the base of the petals are bright green, and the corolla is a deep wine red bordered with bright yellow to cream yellow. The flowers are solitary, carried by long peduncles arising from the axils of the leaves. The foliage consists of large lanceolate dark green shiny leaves, with tapered ends that transform into tendrils allowing the plant to cling. The vegetation dries up in autumn, marking the plant's entry into dry dormancy.

The Glorious Carsonii Lily is primarily a conservatory plant, which is easily cultivated in a pot, in a cold greenhouse, or in a conservatory. It does not tolerate heated interiors well. It is possible to grow it in flower beds, in a sunny exposure, in moist but well-drained soil, as long as the tubers are dug up and overwintered in a dry place, for example, in sand. In this way, it can be grown with other climbing plants. The long-lasting flowers can be used for cut flowers.