Gloriosa superba, also known as the Malabar lily or glory lily, is a tropical climbing plant that offers a spectacular flowering in summer! It then displays large, flamboyant flowers, bright red edged with orange-yellow, with recurved and undulating petals, equipped with long stamens. It also bears very beautiful, tender green and shiny leaves, with tendrils at the tips. Unfortunately, as it is not hardy in our climates, Gloriosa needs to be protected from the cold in winter. We explain how to winter it and how to multiply it, by division or by sowing, to easily obtain new plants. 

How to overwinter the Gloriosa?

It is possible to grow Gloriosa all year round in a conservatory or a temperate greenhouse: it will find ideal conditions to develop and can thus remain in the same place all year. However, Gloriosa can also find its place on a terrace, adding a touch of exoticism, or even in open ground, in a tropical-style bed, alongside cannas, crocosmias, banana plants, and hedychiums. You will then need to think about sheltering it from the cold in winter, as it fears temperatures below 10 °C.  

For a potted Gloriosa

  • At the end of summer, after flowering and fruiting, the aerial parts (leaves and stems) of the Gloriosa dry out. Wait until they have completely yellowed, then cut the stems at the base.
  • Bring the pot indoors, to a cool, frost-free place, such as a garage. Then forget about it! Gloriosa is dormant during winter and does not need watering. On the contrary, moisture could cause its tubers to rot.
  • You can then take it out again in spring. Take the opportunity to repot it, to renew the substrate, which naturally depletes over time, and ensure Gloriosa has vigorous growth and abundant flowering. This is also the right time to divide the tubers.
  • Don’t worry if you don’t see it reappear right away; it emerges quite late.

It is also possible to dig up the tubers at the end of summer, store them in sawdust or sand, and then replant them in pots in spring. 

How to winter the Gloriosa
Gloriosa plants grown in pots. Wintering is very simple, as you just need to bring the pots indoors at the first signs of cold and stop watering (photo: Maja Dumat)

For a Gloriosa grown in open ground

Given its low hardiness, Gloriosa is generally grown in pots; however, it is quite possible to grow it in open ground by planting its tuber in spring and digging it up in autumn, just as one would do for dahlias or cannas.  

  • At the end of summer, as soon as the aerial parts of the Gloriosa are completely dry, cut them at the base of the stem. This indicates that it has entered dormancy.
  • Dig up the tubers, digging wide and deep enough not to damage them.
  • If soil remains attached to the tubers, gently rub them to remove it.
  • Take a container, such as a tray or a small box
  • Place a layer of sawdust or sand in it
  • Then lay the tubers horizontally, ensuring they do not touch each other.
  • Cover with sawdust or sand.
  • Store the container in a dry, dark, and ventilated place, at a temperature of at least 10 °C.
  • Wait until spring to replant the tubers in open ground. You can also divide them at that time.
How to winter the Gloriosa
Dig up the tubers and place them flat in a container filled with sawdust

How to multiply the Gloriosa?

By division

When to divide the Gloriosa?

Take advantage of repotting the Gloriosa or planting the tubers in spring to divide them. In fact, they may sometimes separate on their own when you handle them.  

How to do it? 

  • Carefully dig up the tubers.
  • Choose the largest one(s) and cut them in half using a sharp, disinfected knife.
  • Immediately replant each tuber separately in a pot or in open ground.
  • Water generously.

Necessary materials: 

By sowing

When to sow the Gloriosa?

The ideal time to sow Gloriosa seeds is at the end of winter or the beginning of spring (March-April), under cover. 

Gloriosa seeds
Gloriosa produces bright red, shiny seeds. (photos: Ton Rulkens / Yercaud Elango)

How to do it?

After flowering, Gloriosa produces capsules that contain large, bright red seeds. You can harvest ripe seeds from a Gloriosa plant or buy them: for example, check out our seeds of Gloriosa superba 'Mixed'. 

  • Before sowing, place the seeds in a glass of warm water for at least 24 hours. This will promote germination by breaking their dormancy.
  • Prepare pots by filling them with special seed compost, light and draining.
  • Lightly firm and level the surface.
  • Sow the seeds on the surface.
  • Cover with a thin layer of compost, then lightly firm down.
  • Water gently.
  • Place the pot under cover, in a bright location, ideally with a temperature between 20 and 25 °C.
  • Water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist (but not soggy) until germination. This should occur in 3 to 6 weeks.
  • Transplant the young plants into individual pots once they have developed two true leaves.

Necessary materials: