New Clivia Variety Coming From Longwood

By Greenhouse Grower staff|March 15, 2012

Longwood Gardens is releasing its second clivia in a series of five March 17, when the North American Clivia Society holds its International Symposium and Show at Longwood. Clivia enthusiasts from around the United States will be in attendance when ‘Longwood Fireworks’ makes its debut. ‘Longwood Fireworks’ will be on display throughout the weekend.

Last March, Longwood Gardens released ‘Longwood Debutante.’ It plans to release additional clivia cultivars over the next five years.

‘Longwood Fireworks’ boasts yellow flowers above its foliage. The petals of the florets are reflexed and curve backward, forming a round, full 9-inch umbel.
Longwood Gardens began its breeding program in 1976 when clivias were commonly orange. The yellow clivias back then were rare but not impressive, according to Longwood Gardens, so Longwood decided to initiate a breeding program to produce a superior yellow clivia.

One factor that slowed the program over the years was the extended period of time it takes for a clivia seedling to mature. Seedlings can take up to eight years to bloom from the time the seed is planted.