Gloriosa superba, or glory lily, adds a tropical look to gardens within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, with its intricate red and gold flowers and glossy green foliage. Vegetative propagation methods work best for growing glory lily, because the seeds germinate slowly and somewhat erratically. However, using fresh, pretreated seeds will greatly improve the success rate and speed of the process.
Gathering the Seed
Glory lilies bloom from midsummer into early autumn before the flowers fade and ripen into pendulous, segmented seed capsules. Once the capsules dry out and begin to split along the seams, they can be gathered and the round, bright red seeds can be extracted. The seeds begin to lose viability quickly, so begin processing them immediately after harvest. Wear gloves when gathering or handling the seeds because all parts of the glory lily are highly toxic.
Pretreating the Seed
Unlike many tropical flower species, glory lilies bear dormant seeds that require stratification to successfully germinate. There are several methods for pretreating the seeds, but the easiest is to store them inside a jar filled with moistened peat or sphagnum moss at 75 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly three months. After warming the seeds, they must then be sown in individual pots filled with seed-starting compost and placed inside a refrigerator for three months to chill them. Making sure to keep the medium moist at all times will prevent the glory lily seeds from reentering their dormant state.
Germinating the Seed
Once the glory lily seeds have been pretreated, the pots may be moved to a warm, bright location for germination. The seeds must be warmed to around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so the pots should be kept indoors in cooler climates or in a sheltered area outdoors in warmer areas. Covering the pots with clear plastic wil hold warmth and humidity around the seeds and keep the growing medium moist. Bright light is necessary, so position the pots near a large window indoors or under a south-facing porch outdoors. Glory lily seeds can take anywhere from one month to one year to germinate.
Transplant and Care
Glory lily seedlings are sensitive and slow-growing, so they must be kept under warm, bright and sheltered conditions while they mature. Keep them indoors or in a sheltered spot outdoors, protected from strong wind and direct sunlight. Transplant the seedlings into pots filled with standard potting soil once they produce two mature leaves. Water when the soil feels mostly dry 1/2-inch below the surface. Glory lilies take only one year to produce a tuber, but they should not be planted in the garden for at least three years. Be sure to acclimate the plants to normal outdoor conditions for at least a week before planting them in the ground in autumn of their third year.
- Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images