General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Vine
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 4 - 6 feet
Plant Spread: Climber
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruiting Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Orange
Pink
Red
Yellow
Other: Color of bloom changes as it matures.
Flower Time: Summer
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Toxicity: Other: whole plant contains toxins, tuber most of all
Propagation: Other methods: Other: tubers multiply
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Preferred depth: horizontially placed 2" below top of planting medium.

Image
Common names
  • Gloriosa Lily
  • Flame Lily
  • Fire Lily
  • Glory Lily
  • Climbing Lily

Photo Gallery
Location: RHS Wisley, Surrey, UK.
Date: 2022-08-04
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Date: 2021-08-18
gloriosa lily
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-08-10
#pollination   Hairstreak BF
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-05

Date: July 2010
Close up of Gloriosa bloom
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-05
growing on trellis in large containers
Location: My Yard
Date: 8/25/2014
Photo by jmorth

Date: 2005-08-24
Location: My garden
Date: 2020-05-12
So beautiful!
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-08
Hummers like em too!
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-20
2 Hummers at Gloriosa
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-24
Gloriosa Lily 006
Location: Fireplace garden
Date: 2016-07-09
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-7-12
#pollination
Location: My Yard
Date: 8/30/2014
close up of bloom petal...
Location: Gardenfish garden 
Date: June 15 2020
One of two varieties in the same pot.

Date: 2021-10-02
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-09-01
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-09-03
#pollination
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-20
The petals are starting to develop
Location: Wilmington, DE
Date: 2013-07-23
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-24
Night shot of containerized Gloiosas.
Location: Pacific Northwest zone 8
Date: 2010-09-28
Location: Elizabeth Lawrence Garden at Wing Haven, Charlotte, NC
Date: 2022-06-23
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-09-03
#pollination
Location: My garden
Date: 2022-08-21
Location: Gulf Coast
Date: 2019-06-29
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-07-10
Location: My Yard
Date: 8/13/2014
Location: Elizabeth Lawrence Garden at Wing Haven, Charlotte, NC
Date: 2022-06-23
Location: Alabaster, AL
Date: 2022-06-22
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-21
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-09-03
#pollination
Location: My garden
Date: 2022-08-21
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: Summer
Gloriosa lily

Date: July 2011
Gloriosa Lily
Location: Gulf Coast
Date: 2019-06-29
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-05-14
Tubers
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-31
in a hanging basket
Location: Dayton, TN
Date: 2014-07-04
Gloriosa at night
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-01-22
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-07-18
Note the curling tendrils
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-07-30
Location: 2011 Newport Flower show at Rosecliff in Newport, Rhode Island.
Date: June
credit: Captain-tucker
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-08-21
Location: My garden in Warrenville, SC
Date: 2018-06-13
Location: My Garden
Date: 2013-08-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-05-05
Tuber w/ some roots and initial stem shoot.
Location: central Illinois
Date: September 2015
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-13-06
With Fall Clematis on a chain link fence
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-28
Flame Lily 005a
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: 2014-06-14
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-07-02
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-26
#pollination
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-08-29
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2010-03-21
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2010-03-21
Location: Plano, TX
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-5-12
#pollination   Skipper dive bombing Gloriosa
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2015-06-15
1st bloom of the summer!
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: Summer 
Gloriosa lily
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-02
Stems quickly grow several feet and split.  At the end of these f
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-07-19
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-08-29
Location: My Yard
Date: 8/4/2014
Location: Plano, TX
fading bloom
Location: Plano, TX
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: My back deck
Date: July 20, 2011
Gloriosa Rothschildiana

Date: May 2011
Opening Bloom
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-09-01
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-05-15
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2014-08-03
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-12
Location: Work area
Date: 2014-04-26
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2009-0724
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
The reverse side of the bloom is shown at the top of the plant.
Location: Fireplace garden, middle.
Date: 2014-07-22
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
Date: 2013-07-20
Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana'
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-07-02
Location: Hampton Court Palace!
Date: 2012-07-14
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-21
Location: My Yard
Date: 8/19/2014
Just before I Open
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-14

Date: 2005-08-20
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-07-19
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2015-06-15
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-06-01
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2014-08-03
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2014-05-19
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-07-24
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-07-24
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-12
Flowers developing at the top
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-12
Newly formed flower bud
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-02
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-06-15
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-03
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2016-06-22
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-21
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Oct 23, 2011 2:13 AM concerning plant:
    Some cultural notes on Gloriosa rothschildiana -
    I usually grow mine in very large containers (14 to 20" +).
    I place the tubers (which are often shaped like fingers, legs, or L's) 2 inches below the top of the soil, they are placed horizontally with an inch or two apart, 3 to 6 per container. If using pots or containers, its a good idea to have a trellis in place so as not to accidentally pierce one when soil covered later. They can grow upward (by tendrils at leaf's ends) up to 8 feet per season. It's essential to provide a support for them to grow upward on. The soil must be free draining (adding some sand usually helps). For most of my containers I put a couple inches of styrofoam peanuts in the bottom (this keeps the weight more manageable and helps drainage). Mine usually bloom through the whole summer season. When they decline by fall, taper off watering. I move mine to the basement for overwinter storage. If utilizing large pots, they maybe be left dry in the pots till spring when it is recommended they be re-potted. When tapped out of their old pot an amazing juxtaposition has often occurred in that the tubers migrate from the horizontal plane to become vertical.
    I usually fertilize them with liquid Miracle Grow every 2 to 3 weeks.
    One can ascertain when they'll come out of their dormancy by observing the tuber tips, they take on a pinkish coloration. At this point it is usually easier to establish which side goes up when planting for a rudimentary eye becomes visible and points upward. The basement here maintains a fairly constant average temperature around 60 degrees.
    When grown outside they prefer night temps 60 - 70 degrees but can tolerate down to 50 degrees. Preferred day temps are 75 degrees or higher with high humidity (typical midwest climate).
    They can also be grown as houseplants or in the ground summer plants.
    At season's end or next season's beginning when extracting them from their habitat it is easy to break them. If that happens be not overly alarmed as each separate leg may bloom any way.


  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 9, 2011 5:15 PM concerning plant:
    The Gloriosa superba is a perennial herb from tropical Africa and Asia. The leaves have tendrils at their tips, aiding the plant in climbing and twining around and through anything in its path. The blooms are colorful and showy with pronounced reflexed petals.
Plant Events from our members
jmorth On November 12, 2014 Winterized
Moved pots from garage to basement.
jmorth On October 11, 2014 Miscellaneous Event
Moved into garage where remains till die back, trimmed to soil then moved to basement where stored in their pots dry overwinter.
GaNinFl On February 21, 2016 Maintenance performed
Divided the tubers and repotted in fresh soil.
flaflwrgrl On July 2, 2016 Bloomed
lovesblooms On March 3, 2018 Seeds sown
indoors
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page