Clivia ‘Pastel’

Clivia 'Pastel' (Clivia miniata hybrid) solves the hardest position in the garden: dry shade under established trees. Growing to about 60cm tall and wide, it holds deep green strap leaves all year and lifts trumpets of soft apricot and cream flowers above them from late winter into spring. Where standard clivias glow hot orange, this selection brings a gentler palette that sits beautifully in designed shade plantings.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers where almost nothing else blooms. Deep shade under trees, on the south side of buildings and beneath verandahs is exactly where clivias perform.
• A refined colour range. Soft apricot to cream blooms instead of the usual bold orange, an easy fit with white, green and silver schemes.
• Handles dry root zones. Established clumps cope with the root competition under mature trees that kills lawn and thirstier perennials.
• Evergreen structure. The glossy strap foliage looks composed all year between flowering seasons.
• Low maintenance in the true sense. No staking, no regular feeding, no pruning beyond removing spent flower stems.

Where it works best

Mass planting under trees. Plant 40cm apart for a lush massed display in dry shade beneath established canopies. Drifts of a dozen or more read as a designed understorey rather than a gap filler.

Pots on shaded balconies and courtyards. A single clump fills a 300mm pot, and container growing is the answer for renters, small spaces and cold districts.

Borders and edging in shade. Along a shaded path or the dark side of the house, the strap foliage makes a tidy permanent edge with a flowering bonus.

Growing Clivia 'Pastel' in Australia

Position and climate. Shade is essential: dappled light or bright shade grows the best plants, and hot direct sun burns the foliage quickly. It thrives in subtropical, warm temperate and tropical gardens. It takes light frost only, so in colder districts grow it in pots under a verandah or move it under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining soil enriched with compost or leaf litter, or a quality free draining mix in pots. Constantly wet soil rots the fleshy roots, the one condition it will not forgive.

Water and feed. Water to establish, then let the surface dry between drinks. Established plants get by on rain in most seasons. A light slow release feed in spring supports the next flowering.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems at the base and peel away the odd tired outer leaf. That is the entire routine.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Clivia 'Pastel' in four formats: single tubes, 140mm pots in a pack of 10, 175mm pots in a pack of 6 and 200mm pots in a pack of 6. Tubes are young divisions that need a few seasons to reach flowering age; the larger pot sizes are established plants much closer to blooming, which matters with a plant this slow. Clivias travel well and transplant with little fuss.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best plants for covering shaded ground
• Browse plants for full shade
• Plants for pots and balconies

Common questions

Will it really flower in full shade?

Yes. Clivias flower reliably in genuine shade, and bright shade or dappled light under trees is their sweet spot. What they cannot take is hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves.

What colour will the flowers be?

'Pastel' covers a soft range from apricot through to cream, rather than the standard clivia orange. Tones vary a little from plant to plant, which is part of the charm of a massed drift.

Is it safe for pets?

No. Clivia contains lycorine and is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, with the bulb the most concentrated part. Keep it away from pets that chew plants, or choose from our pet safe range instead.

How does it handle frost?

Light frost only. Foliage burns in hard freezes, so gardeners in frosty districts do best growing it in pots under a verandah or eaves, where it flowers happily for decades.