Gloriosa superba
These plants occur naturally in full sun in deep sandy soils along the coast  in the Durban area. They are commonly found growing in the fore dune vegetation along our beaches where they are extremely wind and salt tolerant.

Gloriosa superba

Growth habit
A small climbing plant with a tuberous root stock. They reproduce naturally by means of seed

Decorative value
These plants are highly decorative having dark glossy green leaves and a neat growth habit, they produce spectacular red and yellow flowers in mid summer

Drought resistance
These plants are only vegetative for a short period during the wet summer months when there is sufficient rainfall for them to survive. Once they have flowered and produced seed in the autumn they die down and remain dormant until summer.

Disease and pest resistance
Diseases and pests are unknown to me.

Suitability as Green Roof plants
These plants have value in the Green Roof landscape in that they provide biodiversity as well as a splash of brilliant colour during mid summer. They plants have done well under our research conditions.

Biodiversity value in the Green Roof landscape
To date this remains unresearched by our team.

Cautions and precautions in the Green Roof application
None that I am aware of.