Clivias – Proudly South African treasures

Clivias are proudly South African treasures that are loved by gardeners all over the world. In 2006 a single clivia plant known as ‘Charl’s Green’ sold for R36 000, while a Chinese grower advertised his broad leaf clivia on eBay for $2.9 million in 2009.

Fortunately we have far more affordable varieties of this indigenous shrub available at our three branches in Bellville, Kenilworth and Milnerton.

Here are some growing tips to get your clivias off to a good start :

• Clivias grow well in containers and garden beds.
• If you choose to grow them in containers, place them in an area with good light, but no direct sunlight. Use potting soil enriched with plenty of bark and leaf mould. Water them once a week in summer and once every three weeks in winter.
• If you plant them in your garden beds, dig plenty of leaves and compost into the soil before planting. They grow best in dappled shade so plant them under evergreen trees or shrubs as the clivia’s leaves could burn when deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter.
• Feed your clivias with 3:1:5 in early August and again in autumn.
• The main pests that tackle clivias are lily borer and snails. Tackle lily borer by spraying plants (don’t forget to spray under the leaves too) with Ludwigs Insect Spray or Margaret Roberts Biological Caterpillar Insecticide. Sort out snails by placing organic snail bait (like Ferramol or Snail-Gone) around your clivia plants.