These exotic, climbing members of the Liliaceae thrive in our hot, steamy summers and mild, dry winters, which closely mimic the conditions of their homelands. Glory lilies sprout from odd, finger-shaped white tubers. Also known as climbing lilies, these slender, fast-growing bulbous plants produce lanceolate leaves. The leaves terminate in distinctive tendrils, which are used by the plant to attach itself to its host. In Florida, glory lilies perform best sited in locations receiving 4 to 6 hours of morning sun or in bright, dappled shade.
Plants placed in full sun tend to become scorched.
Since they prefer moist soil and cool root runs, consider placing the bulbs at the base of shrubs or small trees, or in a mixed bed where they can clamber among taller perennials. Pot grown specimens should be mulched. In Africa the wild forms grow in scrub areas intertwined with native grasses. Give these heavy feeders ample water and fertilize twice monthly with manure tea and you will be rewarded with fabulous blooms. While vines typically grow 5 to 6 feet tall, they are quite capable of attaining heights up to 8 feet in optimum conditions.