Clivia nobilis was the first species of Clivia to be described
in 1828. It was a popular plant in England until the more
spectacular Clivia miniata appeared on the scene 30 years later.
Clivia nobilis is a bulbous plant which develops a rhizome and
forms a tight clump as new suckers are produced and the plant
becomes larger. In light shade the leaves are almost horizontal
and are relatively short, approximately 300mm in length while in
dense shade the leaves are fairly upright and grow to 800mm in
length. The width of the leaves can vary between 25-50mm. The
leaves are a dull dark green with some forms displaying a pale
green stripe down the centre of the leaf similar to the stripe
which occurs on the leaves of some C. mirabilis plants. The
margins of the leaves on many plants are serrated and the leaf
tips are rounded and often notched. This evergreen, long lived
plant produces an inflorescence containing between 40 - 60
pendulous flowers ranging from orange-green to red in colour. It
flowers between late au