Gloriosa Rothchildiana Flower Lily for Summer Color

It has been shown in recent years that gardeners and landscape DIY’rs can grow that interesting and exotic group of tuberous-rooted plants from the old world tropics, the gloriosa lilies, if a raised bed of fertile, loamy, rather sandy, well-drained soil is used. They are usually seen in the greenhouse in the winter.

The bulbs - or rather tubers - are planted in May or June, when the weather has turned definitely warm. The tubers must be sprouted slightly, for quick growth and emergence from the ground.

By purchasing the tubers (the larger ones are best) in the spring, and holding them moderately cool and dry, it should be possible to keep them in good condition until May or June each year.

Indeed, if quick and vigorous growth can be obtained during the warm weeks of summer, it will be possible to have the bulb bloom in eight to ten weeks after planting, sometimes even sooner.

Trial plantings of home gardeners in Wisconsin and Michigan and other states through the west have verified this information in true scientific fashion.

In some cases, where the bulbs make rapid growth and frost has been delayed until well into October, the home gardeners have been able to harvest good tubers for the next season, as the growth of Glorioso Rothschildiana is seasonal, exactly like that of gladiolus in this regard. The flowers, like gladiolus, are good for cutting and decorating.

Place Orders Early

If you wish a garland of these festive, scarlet and golden Gloriosa Rothschildiana lilies in your garden, order several medium to extra large size tubers when the supply is plentiful (February), and your order will be delivered as soon as the temperature is warm enough in the spring.

Store the tubers warm and dry until they sprout at the bud end usually one arm of an “L” or “V”-shaped tuber is sold by dealers, the other arm being retained by the grower to increase stock. The tubers can be stored in a warm or cool room at moderate, temperature, in tissue paper, vermiculite or peat moss.

They may be stored in the bottom of your refrigerator for a few weeks late in the season if they threaten to sprout too generously. Advanced sprouting will tend to weaken the tuber. When the ground is warm, and the weather sunny in early summer, plant the tubers in a sunny location as previously stated, preferably in a raised bed a few inches high of loamy, sandy, fertile soil, not too rich or humusy.

Lay the tubers flat in a furrow as if they were sweet peas, using only a little commercial garden fertilizer worked into the furrow before planting. Cover about three inches deep, after planting with the sprout pointing up.

The roots spring from the under side of the sprouted tip, and the new tuber forms in front of the old tuberarm as the plant matures. Gloriosa Rothschildiana should have wire, stake, trellis or string to climb, which it does by curious tendrils at the tips of the leaves.

The stem will grow four to six or eight feet tall, depending on sunlight, watering, fertility of the soil and strength of the tuber.

Medium to large size tubers will produce 2 - 20 or more flowers in a season, depending on many factors. After planting, the sprout will appear above ground in a few days.

The location should have protection from high wind, hard rains and the hottest sun. Part shade, up to 50 per cent, is satisfactory. The blooms have longer stems under shade, and the flowers are larger. The latter resemble a brilliant, recurved lily. But in all cases, they must have some sunlight, and good drainage.

The tubers may also be potted in five or six inch pots from February on, and grown in a sunny window garden or greenhouse. They must have sunlight and humidity to be grown indoors.

The Gloriosa Rothschildiana species is from East Africa and it was first described in 1903. It is easily obtained and grown by the amateur. There are other interesting species Gloriosa superba, Gloriosa Carsoni, and Gloriosa Plantii for the fancier to try.

Contributed by WL Hayward

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