Kaffir Lily
Helpful Tips for Growing the Kaffir Lilly
Without doubt, one of the most beautiful and symbolic flowers in the world is the lily but one in particular is a favorite, the Kaffir Lily. For one thing, this type of lily is very easy to grow, making it a perfect choice for the beginner. Although the bulb grows slowly, once the plant reaches maturity, it would easily stand two feet tall.
The Kaffir Lily originates from South Africa although it is now grown throughout the world. This lily is a part of the Clivia family, which has a unique history. The Kaffir Lily was actually named after the Duchess of Northumberland, Charlotte Florentina Clive. She was the granddaughter of India’s Robert Clive and having a lily named after her was a huge honor.
While the most common name for this plant is Kaffir Lily, it is also called St. John’s Lily, Fire Lily, and Bush Lily so when shopping for one if you cannot find a plant under one name, consider the others. Again, the Kaffir Lily is grown all over the world although its popularity is the highest throughout Europe, in Japan, Australia, and China. In those countries, the plant is commonly called “Queen of Houseplants”. Of all lilies, this one is also commonly cultivated in the United States.
While the Kaffir Lily was named after a beautiful woman with the intention being one of honor and respect, the term “Kaffir” in many areas of South Africa is actually offensive, being a slam to the people there. For growing this lily, it needs lots of shade and in fact, keeping it in a part of the garden or flowerbed without any sunlight would be best. You can even plant the Kaffir Lily under trees or near shrubs where it would thrive.
While many people prefer to plant the Kaffir Lily outside, this is also an exceptional choice for indoor growing. Unlike the lily outside that needs lots of shade, when grown as a houseplant, you would need to make sure the container receives filtered sunlight. Once the lily begins to bloom during the early spring months, you would enjoy the beautiful, long stalks that shoot up from the leaves with magnificent clusters of colorful flowers. The favorite choices for the Kaffir Lily are blooms of yellow, salmon, scarlet, and a deep red.
Once the Kaffir Lily blooms, you could plant the tubers outside during spring or summer. Keep in mind that the soil should be humus rich and well drained. While you want to keep the soil moist, it should never be soaking wet. To propagate this plant, the offsets could be separated late in spring or early summer, only after flowers have bloomed. However, because the Kaffir Lily does not like to be messed with, you could end up doing damage or even killing the plant when trying to divide it.
One important note about this particular plant, especially if you have pets and small children is that it is somewhat poisonous. Therefore, if the leaves or flowers were chewed on or consumed, it would cause a stomachache. Even sap from the roots and leaves can cause skin irritation. Therefore, when growing the Kaffir Lily, handle it with care.