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Clivia caulescens (Stalked Clivia) – An evergreen rhizomatous perennial to about 2 to 3 feet tall with a thick basal stock holding 2 to 3 foot long by 2 inch wide dark green leaves that emerge and arch out in opposite directions. It produces flower heads smaller than those of the common Clivia miniata and with pendant, funnel-shaped, pale red flowers with yellow stamens.
As with other Clivia this plant prefers light shade, fairly frost-free conditions and dislikes waterlogged soils. This species is an interesting plant for the collector with its mani difference from the other species of Clivia being the thick stalk, which can be up to 3 feet long, that terminates with leaves at top giving this plant the common name Stalked Clivia.
Clivia caulescens is native to the eastern Transvaal in South Africa, and to Swaziland. The genus was named Clivia in 1828 by the Kew botanist John Lindley when he described Clivia nobilis and the name honored Charlotte Percy (Lady Charlotte Clive), the Duchess of Northumberland (1787–1866)>. The specific epithet comes from the Latin words 'caulos' meaning "stem" and the adjective suffix 'escent' meaning "like" in reference to this plant having a well-developed above ground stem. We grew this species from 2000 until 2015. Our plants were grown from seed from Silverhill Seeds in South Africa. Some consider this plant a form of Clivia nobilis.
This information about Clivia caulescens displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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