Clivias

Clivia is a key part of our indoor display, with beautiful blossoms adding sweeps of color to our East Conservatory from late winter into spring. A member of the Amaryllis family, it is known for its large umbels of orange, yellow, red, or even green flowers that stand above shiny deep-green or variegated strap-like foliage.

Anyone growing clivia knows that patience is needed for success. Clivia require four to six years from seed to first flower, and will then flower each successive year. A seedling’s first flowers don’t usually reflect the plant's true potential, which cannot be evaluated until the second or third flowering cycle.

Clivia make a great container house plant, thriving under low light conditions. But did you know that they require a chilling period for proper blooming? Check out our blog for more tips on growing clivia, and enjoy for yourself the beautiful blooms that you’ve admired in our Gardens.

A small bunch of pale orange clivia bloom among green leaves
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Sunset'
A bunch of bright red-orange clivia bloom among green leaves
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Chimes'
Two bunches of tall yellow clivia bloom in a pot
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Fireworks'
Bright yellow clivia bloom in a garden bed alongside purple plants and green trees
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Debutante'
A bright orange clivia blooms among green leaves
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Sunrise'
Pale yellow clivia bloom bloom in the foreground with deep blue flowers in a garden bed in the background
Clivia in the East Conservatory with blue cineraria
Close up of bright yellow clivia
Clivia miniata 'Longwood Debutante'
Bright red-orange clivia bloom among other plants in a garden bed
Clivia in the East Conservatory amid Spring Blooms
Bunches of bright yellow clivia bloom in pots along a long walkway
Clivia in the Acacia Passage
Yellow clivia bloom in a garden bed alongside a planter of purple flowers
Clivia in the East Conservatory with Plectranthus 'Mona Lavendar'
A single tall pale yellow clivia blooms with many green leaves sprouting out from its sides
Green-glowered Clivia in Longwood's breeding program
Close up of yellow clivia with small pale blue flowers to the right
Clivia miniata with blue cineraria

From Our Blog - Clivia

  • Growing Clivia From Seed

    Blog

    Growing Clivia From Seed

    In late winter and spring, your Clivia may be displaying some beautiful fruit. Clivia with yellow flowers will produce yellow fruit, while Clivia with orange flowers will produce red fruit. 

  • On March 13 and 14, 2010, Longwood Gardens hosted its first Clivia Show, complete with a lecture segment.

  • How to Make Your Clivia a Blooming Winner
    close up of orange Clivia Miniata with green and yellow center

    Blog

    How to Make Your Clivia a Blooming Winner

    Recently I visited with the Director of the North American Clivia Society and Executive Director of the Delaware Nature Society, Mike Riska, to get his expert advice on clivias. 

  • As part of our “Clivia in the Classroom” program, we gave blooming-sized clivia plants and seeds to eight biology and horticulture teachers in area schools. 

  • Clivia Breeding & Release

    Clivia Breeding & Release

    When Dr. Robert Armstrong first began breeding clivia at Longwood in 1976, available plants were orange-flowered varieties, while yellow-flowered forms were quite rare and were generally weak plants with small flowers.