Flower Library
Glory Lily
Gloriosa · Colchicaceae
The gloriosa, or glory lily, is the flame among cut flowers: swept-back, ruffled petals in glowing red with a yellow rim, plus dramatically protruding stamens. Hardly any other bloom looks this dance-like. In wedding work and refined bouquets it is a statement that needs no quantity. We buy our gloriosa stem by stem in A1 grade at the Veiling Rhein-Maas auction — with a flower this delicate, freshness makes all the difference.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 7–12 days
- Latin name
- Gloriosa
- Colors
- Red with yellow, Fiery red, Orange, Yellow, Greenish white (variety)
The trade is dominated by the variety „Rothschildiana“ with red-and-yellow blooms, alongside pure yellow selections such as „Lutea“ and more modern tones from orange to creamy white. Stems are usually sold as short vine sections with one to three flowers, or as single blooms in water tubes — both are normal and no defect.
Botanically the gloriosa is not a true lily but belongs, like the autumn crocus, to the Colchicaceae family. That also explains its toxicity: all parts contain colchicine, so it must be kept strictly away from children and pets. When processing larger quantities we wear gloves.
In floristry the gloriosa is a classic form and movement flower. It needs air around it — bound in tightly it loses its effect and snaps easily. We like to set it raised above the bouquet, in bridal work with a flowing line, or solo in slim vases with a little steel grass.
Fresh stock shows firmly coloured, fully spread petals without glassy edges and intact stamens. The vines are extremely fragile because the leaf tips act as climbing hooks and catch on everything — so unpack slowly and patiently.
A typical mistake is storing it too cold: as a tropical plant the gloriosa dislikes cooler temperatures below about eight degrees, which turn the blooms glassy. Room temperature with fresh water suits it better than the chilling that benefits other cut flowers.
Is Glory Lily toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Highly toxic
- Cats
- Highly toxic
- Dogs
- Highly toxic
All parts contain colchicine and are potentially life-threatening to cats, dogs and children — the tubers most of all. Keep strictly out of reach and wash hands after handling. If ingestion is suspected, seek medical or veterinary help immediately.
Typical symptoms: Severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, drooling and abdominal pain; in serious cases circulatory failure and organ damage, often with delayed onset.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Untangle stems or tubed blooms gently — do not tear off the hooking leaf tips.
- 02Recut the stem ends and place them in a small amount of clean, lukewarm water.
- 03Do not store below eight degrees; a bright, cool spot indoors without draughts is ideal.
- 04Do not crowd the blooms: gloriosa needs space from neighbouring flowers in the vase.
- 05Wash your hands after handling — all parts of the plant contain colchicine.
- 06Change the water every two days and pluck out spent single blooms along the vine.
Frequently asked
- Is gloriosa poisonous?
- Yes, severely. All parts contain colchicine, especially the tubers. For cats, dogs and children the glory lily is potentially life-threatening. As a cut flower in the vase it is unproblematic as long as nobody nibbles on it — in households with pets or small children we recommend a different flower.
- How long does gloriosa last in the vase?
- Freshly bought stems last around seven to twelve days. What matters is room temperature rather than fridge cold, clean water and a spot where the delicate blooms will not get knocked. Individual flowers fade one after another and can simply be plucked out.
- Is the gloriosa a true lily?
- No. Despite the English name glory lily it does not belong to the lily family but to the Colchicaceae — it is more closely related to the autumn crocus. It is still highly toxic to cats, just via a different compound, colchicine.
- Why are gloriosa blooms sold individually in water tubes?
- The vines are long, tangling and fragile, so many nurseries cut the blooms individually and set them in water tubes. This way they survive transport better and can be placed precisely in floral work, for instance in a bridal bouquet or an arrangement.