Plants
Clivia
Clivia miniata · Amaryllidaceae
The clivia, also called bush lily, is a houseplant with character: dark green, leathery fans of strap-like leaves from which, in late winter, a sturdy stalk pushes up carrying an umbel of glowing orange trumpet flowers. It is remarkably undemanding, lives for decades with good care — and flowers all the more reliably the more consistently you grant it a cool winter rest.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Clivia miniata
The secret of clivia bloom is the winter rest: from about November to January the plant needs a bright, cool spot at 8 to 12 degrees — an unheated stairwell or bedroom is ideal — with hardly any water and no feed at all. Without this cold stimulus, the spring flowering usually fails to appear.
As soon as the flower stalk shows, the clivia moves somewhere warmer and normal watering resumes. A classic mistake is bringing it into the warmth too early: only once the stalk is about 10 to 15 centimetres tall should temperatures rise, otherwise the umbel gets stuck low between the leaves.
Clivias are decidedly loyal to their spot. Once settled, they should not be turned or moved — the fan-shaped leaf arrangement aligns itself with the light, and frequent moving costs energy and flowers. Long-time clivia owners get the same advice in our shop: find a place, keep the place.
Restraint also applies to repotting. The fleshy roots like it snug; only when they visibly burst the pot is the plant moved into a container just one size larger. Slightly cramped roots noticeably encourage flowering.
Important to know: as a member of the amaryllis family, clivia contains the alkaloid lycorine, concentrated in the roots and lower stem. It is toxic to cats, dogs and children — nibbling leaves or dug-up root pieces can cause vomiting and drooling, larger amounts more severe symptoms. In pet households, place it raised and out of reach.
Design-wise the clivia is a solo act: its architectural leaf fan looks best free-standing on a pedestal or a wide windowsill. After flowering, cut the stalk out low unless you want to raise seed — ripening seed drains a great deal of the plant's energy.
Is Clivia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Toxic
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
All parts contain the alkaloid lycorine, most concentrated in the roots and stem base. Toxic to cats, dogs and children — place raised and out of reach in pet households.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; larger amounts can cause tremors, circulatory problems and heart rhythm disturbances — seek veterinary or medical help immediately.
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
- 01Place bright but out of direct midday sun; east or west windows are ideal.
- 02Water moderately and let the soil dry in between; waterlogging rots the fleshy roots.
- 03Keep cool (8–12 °C) and almost dry from November to January — that is the key to flowering.
- 04Do not turn or relocate the plant; clivias are loyal to their spot.
- 05Feed every two weeks from spring to late summer.
- 06Repot only when the roots burst the pot — snug roots encourage bloom.
Frequently asked
- Why is my clivia not flowering?
- In nine out of ten cases the cool winter rest is missing. Clivia needs around 8 to 12 degrees from November to January with very sparing watering in order to set buds. Kept in a warm living room all year it grows splendidly — but does not flower.
- Is clivia toxic to cats?
- Yes. Like amaryllis and daffodil, clivia contains lycorine, which can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea in cats and dogs; the highest concentration is in the roots and stem base. Larger amounts can cause more serious symptoms — keep the plant out of pets' reach.
- How old can a clivia get?
- With good care, easily several decades. Clivias are among the longest-lived houseplants of all and are often passed down within families. Over the years they form offsets that can be separated and given away as young plants.
- Should I cut off the spent flower stalk?
- Yes, unless you want to raise seed. Cut the stalk out as low as possible after flowering, because seed production drains a great deal of energy that will be missing from next year's bloom.