| Botanical Name |
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| Family |
Colchicaceae - The flame lily family. |
| Pronunciation |
glo-ree-OH-suh soo-PER-buh |
| Common Name(s) |
Flame lily; Vlamlelie; isimiselo (Zulu) |
| Plant Group |
- Bulb / Corm / Rhizome / Tuber / Epigeal bulb Bulbs: are made up of fleshy scales as in an onion
Corm: a short, swollen, underground stem that is hard and not fleshy as in a gladiolus
Tuber: a solid, fleshy, underground, storage organ as in a potato
Rhizome: an underground, horizontal, swollen stem at the base of the plant as in an iris
Epigeal bulb: bulbs that rest above the ground with only the roots anchoring the plant to the earth as in albuca
- Climber / Creeper Climber: a plant that climbs using tendrils or if given support.
Creeper: a plant running along the ground, often rooting as it goes.
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| Plant Size |
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| Position |
- Canopy Shade Canopy shade is found below closely grown trees where some light filters through. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
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| General Information |
- Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
- Deciduous Plants which completely lose their foliage for part of the year.
- Drought Tolerance: Medium The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
- Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
- Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
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| Specific Information |
ALL parts of this plant are extremely poisonous and ingestion could be fatal. The flame lily is a climbing or scrambling vine with glossy leaves, the tips of which coil onto nearby bushes, using them as a support. It grows from 1 to 3 meters from an underground tuber. The flowers are stunning in arrangements but note that the orange pollen leaves an indelible stain. There is also a plain yellow variety. Although I have not come across evidence of this in South Africa, it is considered a rampant and dangerous invasive weed in parts of Australia, where it dominates coastal dunes at the expense of native species and has led to deaths of native animals and birds when ingested. Please note that the plants in the photographs are not correctly planted, but since they do not seem too unhappy, I have left them where I found them. I do however shade them with palm branches during summer.
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| Flowers |
| Description |
flame-like, wavy-edged petals that arch back, with the stamens radiating out from the base
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| Season |
- Summer Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
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| Colour |
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| Growth Rate |
- Fast Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
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| Plant Uses |
- Attracts bees and other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
- Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
- Container Trees, shrubs and ornamental species that can adapt to growing in a restricted environment.
- Cut Flowers Plants that provide flowers suitable for ornamental uses.
- Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
- Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
- Suitable for smaller gardens Such plants do not have invasive root systems, remain small or controllable and can often be grown in containers.
- Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
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| Ad Break |
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| Distribution |
along the Cape coast to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, and throughout tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia, in nutrient-poor, fast-draining soils, in semi-shade areas on hillsides, in savanna bush and in thickets
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| Planting Suggestions |
Choose a site where the flame lily can scramble up through trees and shrubs, or provide a trellis in a semi-shaded area, otherwise they flop on the ground or scramble over and through nearby plants. The tubers, which are brittle and fragile, can only be lifted and split or moved during the dormant period. Plant the tubers horizontally 8 to 10cm deep, in well drained soil. Water well during the growing and flowering season but reduce water during the winter resting period. If cultivated in the winter rainfall region it is best grown in pots, as the tubers are likely to rot during the wet winter months. Seeds take up to nine months to germinate. The vines dry up after seeding but don't bother with removing them - they disappear into the ground in no time at all.
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| Medicinal Uses |
Gloiosa superba contains the poisonous compound colchicine and is used in folk remedies in Asia and southern Africa to treat intestinal worms, bruises, infertility, skin problems and impotence. The main use of colchicine is in the treatment for gout.
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| Availability |
- Unavailable The plant is currently unavailable at our nursery.
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Comments
Flame lily/Spider Lily
I found this plant growing in our garden in Mossel Bay. I was fascinated by this flower and eventually found out the name from a nursery. I saw it the first time last year and then it dissappeared until end December when I again saw it amongst another plant. Where it came from I don't know, but it is lovely!
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