Bush Lily

Bush or Flame Lillies (Clivia) are tropical bulb plants similar to Amaryllis and make a stunning houseplant in the UK producing colourful blooms in Winter or Spring.

Once your plant is flowering it does not need a large amount of light and will be quite happy at normal indoor temperatures. The cooler the room the longer the blooms will last. Place your Bush lily as a focal point in a room on an office desk or kitchen table.

As your plant grows, turn the pot periodically to encourage the flower stalks to grow straight. Flower buds will appear at the top of each stalk, followed by a dramatic floral display. To prolong the blooms, keep the pot out of direct sunlight.

Water little and often when your plant is in leaf or flower and you might also want to add a little general-purpose feed once a month. You’re aiming to keep the soil slightly damp not soaked and it’s best not to stand your Clivia in water for any length of time.

These large bulbs will grow more than one flower stem, typically producing two to three blooms over a number of weeks.

Although some people treat these lilies as a short-lived plant, they can be encouraged to blossom again the following year. After the flowers have faded, cut the flower stalk to within 1" of the top of the bulb. Continue to water and feed the plant regularly. they will grow several leaves during the spring and summer. This will help the plant produce energy for next year’s blooms. Towards the end of the autumn move your Clivia somewhere cooler, like a porch where it can rest, ideally between 10 and 15C and ease back on the watering.

Then at the end of February move your plant somewhere warmer again. Water sparingly at first until new shoots start to form from the top of the bulb and then more regularly as it grows, provide bright, indirect light. A support cane is useful to keep the blooms upright. In it’s second year you would normally expect flowers around March/April.