Flame lily
Gloriosa superba
Also called Gloriosa, Glory lily and Climbing lily
Garden plant · BulbsONE OF THE MOST POISONOUS THINGS YOU CAN PLANT — the tuber holds colchicine, a few grams have killed adults, and it looks enough like a sweet potato to be mistaken for one. Wear gloves, label the pot, and keep it off a vegetable bed.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 5 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- High
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 1.8 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Tropical Africa and Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: burning in the mouth, then vomiting and diarrhoea hours later, then organ failure. Colchicine poisoning is delayed, which is what makes it so dangerous — somebody can feel fine for six hours.
Every part, and the tuber most of all.
Gloves to handle the tubers, label the pot, and never store them near anything edible.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.