Species

caulescens	gardenii	miniata
mirabilis	nobilis	robusta

 

Most breeding has been done with the upward facing miniata, but the several other
species with tubular flowers hanging down, are becoming more popular.

N.B.C. miribilis is a recently identified restricted species, not yet introduced to
Australian gardens.

Flowering Times (southern hemisphere):

• Caulescens: September-November
• Gardenii: April-June
• Miniata: August-November
• Nobilis: July-December
• Robusta: March-August

Species Crosses

With most animals and plants, crosses between species are called hybrids and they are sterile. Crosses between the different Clivia species are termed “interspecifics”, and they are fertile. Some examples are:

miniata x nobilis (called cyrtanthiflora)	miniata x caulescens	miniata x gardenii
As yet, only two naturally occurring interspecifics have been found:
miniata x gardenii (Stanger area of KZN)	miniata x caulescens (nimbicola)
Most of the crosses include the upward facing miniata because this raises and opens the otherwise pendant tube. (with all breeding, particularly of this sort, a large number of offspring increases the chance of producing a worthwhile new form). By recrossing with the second generation (F2), a large number of possibilities are created for example:
(nobilis x miniata) x self	(miniata x caulescens) x miniata	miniata x (miniata x nobilis)
(miniata x gardenii) x self
Because these species flower at different times of the year, the appropriate choice of different species crosses could bring about Clivias flowering right throughout the year.