Gloriosa Superba ‘Rothschildiana’

Credit: Barbra Fairclough

Give your conservatory or sunroom a lift this summer with this bright beauty. The gloriosa lily is a tuberous perennial climber that can take more than one season to bloom, but the reward is worth the wait. Its brilliant crimped flowers appear during the summer and its moderate size (1.8 to 2.4 metres) allows it to fit into indoor spaces. This woodland native of India and Africa works as a houseplant, but loves the humidity and warmth of a conservatory or sunroom. Ensure it has evenly moist, sharply draining soil and give it a balanced feed every couple of weeks while blooming. Protect the tropical tubers over winter months by lifting and storing dry in temperatures no less than 5°C.