Sandersonia aurantiaca Gold Lily of the Valley
A neat summer flowering bulb which has a slight tendency to naturalise in the garden. I would not be without it. While its common name is Gold Lily of the Valley it is nothing like the traditional Lily of the Valley of spring.
Growing from a very odd shaped bulb this is the only species of this genus. It naturally occurs in South Africa and is allied to Gloriosa and Littonia. It has been known to hybridise with these two plants and they all belong to the lily family.
It requires a loose, free soil ands a sunny sheltered spot and freedom from heavy frosts. (In Christchurch NZ we get ground frosts of -8C and there is not effect).
The stems grow vertically about 300 -450mm high each bearing up to 7 individual lantern shaped orange/yellow flowers branching out on single pendant stems from the axil of the leaf and stem. It quickly sets viable seed which grows very well.
It is commonly grown commercially fro cut flowers in NZ for both the domestic and export market.
5 comments:
I have never seen anything like this before - gorgeous! I'm sure it won't do well in my frosty Vermont, so I'll settle for the pretty little white ones.
...and how does it smell?
Woderful. As JP, I'll enjoy the picture. How does it do in snow?
jim
Thanks so much for your beautiful blog. It's very inspiring. PS I'm in chch too.
This is gorgeous! Just when I thought I didn't want any other plants. I have to go put this on my want list.
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