Scarborough lily

Description

Cyrtanthus elatus (many previous synonyms including Vallota speciosa), the Scarborough lily, is a bulbous flowering plant which originates from the Cape Province of South Africa. Other common names are fire lily or George lily. Cultivated varieties of the Scarborough lily have flowers which may be bright red, orange, yellow, or occasionally pink or white. The stems can grow to a height of up to 2 feet. They are relatively easy to grow in a warm, sheltered frost-free spot. Alternatively they can be grown under glass in pots. They require either full sun or slight shade. They flower in late summer or early fall. The Latin specific epithet elatus means “tall”. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017)