Rothschildiana

Gloriosa rothschildiana – Climbing Flame Lily

Gloriosa is a funny-looking tuber with a very good end result. Its red flowers have yellow edges and petals that curl right back on themselves, making it easy to see where the name Flame Lily comes from.

Give it a warm spot and something to climb, and it’ll soon be working its way up a trellis or through a neighbouring shrub. We like planting them somewhere we walk past often, so we can gently guide the tendrils as they grow. A little supervision helps keep things heading in the right direction.

• Position: A sunny, warm, sheltered spot with free-draining soil.

• Height: Climbs around 1–2 metres. Trellises, wires, bamboo and tomato cages all make useful supports.

• Flowers: Red with yellow edges, flowering over summer, typically December through January.

• Where to grow: In garden beds or a generous pot with climbing support.

Planting: Lay the tubers flat, around 10cm deep, and take care with the growing tips. Have their support ready so they’ve got something to grab as they get going.

They’re lovely to bring inside too. Pick individual blooms for a bowl or cut full stems, leaves and all, for a vase. We even tuck the blooms into our Christmas tree each year. The decorations are growing in the garden, so we may as well use them.