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Colchicaceae
Gloriosa Lily
Gloriosa superba
Glory, splendor, royalty.
- Family
- Colchicaceae
- Genus
- Gloriosa
- Native to
- Tropical Africa, Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- Climbing tuberous perennial
- Height
- 1.5–3 m climbing
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate during growth
- Hardiness
- 9–11
- Lifespan
- Tubers persist year to year
Did you know
- The flame lily is the national flower of Zimbabwe, and a diamond brooch in its likeness was given to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1947 visit.
- Its leaf tips end in coiling tendrils that grip other plants — it's one of the very few climbing members of the lily-like families.
- The reflexed wavy petals look like leaping flames, which is how it earned the names flame lily, fire lily, and tiger claw.
- Every part of the plant contains colchicine, a powerful toxin used medicinally to treat gout but deadly if misused.
- It's the state flower of Tamil Nadu, India, where it's called kaanthal and figures in classical Tamil love poetry.
Color meanings
Red
Passion and triumph