Gloriosa Lilies

Sophisticated, sometimes outrageous yet extremely easy to grow! Gloriosa Lilies or Climbing Lilies are tropical vines that perfectly fit this description. These high-fashion florists’ flowers are known for their magnificent crimson and yellow flowers with dramatically forward-reaching stamens and swept-back, ruffled petals so that the flowers appear to be moving forward at high speed. Yellow or orange-flowered types are also available.

• Borne in the upper leaf axils of long, spindly stems, the flowers bloom from late spring through fall and then turn into wacky-looking ribbed seed pods. 
• The leaves of Gloriosa Lilies are another wonder. From the tip of each glossy green leaf sprouts a long green tendril that twirls out to grasp whatever is nearby by spinning itself around it. The stem hoists itself upward or outward, bearing its flowers like so many parachutes or butterflies.

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How to Plant and Grow Gloriosa Lilies

• Gloriosa Lilies respond to warmth and moisture. To get a jump on the planting season, start them indoors or in a garden container. To plant in the garden, wait until soil and air temperatures have warmed and the threat of frost is well past.
• Plant Gloriosa Lilies in full sun or partial shade in rich, well-drained soil that retains its moisture. The Gloriosa bulb is actually a long skinny tuber approximately 4-6 in. long (10-15 cm). Plant it 3 in. (7 cm) deep and 12 in. apart (30 cm) in early spring after the last frost date.
• Shoots will emerge two to six weeks after planting. For best effect, provide an upright structure for the emerging stems to grasp. Allow the plant to grow straight up until buds appear, then feel free to guide the stems towards their supports. Trellises, arbors, and obelisks are particularly attractive as upright supports, but tree stumps and chain link fences are also appropriate. Gloriosa Lilies in pots can climb an obelisk or bamboo structure placed right in the pot, or place pots adjacent to fences or arbors.
• By setting a schedule of care, you’ll have prize-quality plants all season. Water well at planting, then sparingly until growth emerges. Water well, again, once the plant attains full growth and bloom, then taper off after the blossoms fade to allow stems to wither.
• Cut down top growth as it dies back after flowering.
• If you live in a cool area (hardiness zones 3-8) and want to save your bulbs, you may lift and clean the tubers planted in the garden for winter storage at a cool room temperature (60° F to 70° F). Bulbs in pots may be stored indoors right in their pots, ready for use the next summer.
• Highly toxic if ingested, tubers may cause skin irritation. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.
• On the bright side, this means they are generally impervious to garden pests such as deer and squirrels. Even so, in some areas, squirrels have become so aggressive that they may dig up the tubers before rejecting them as a snack. To counter such foragers, simply replant the tubers or position rocks over the planting site until the plants get established.

Click here to compare all Gloriosa varieties