Agnisikha
Gloriosa superba
Climbing Plants Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Gloriosa superba (flame lily or ‘Agnisikha’ in Odia, also called Kalihari/Ulagam/Chital) is a climbing tuberous herb of the Liliaceae family. The plant bears stunning flame-like flowers with reflexed red-yellow petals. The plant is the state flower of Tamil Nadu. Tubers contain colchicine — used in modern medicine for gout and in plant breeding for inducing polyploidy. The plant is naturally found in tropical forests.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
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Light
Full sun
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Water
Regular; moderately drought-tolerant
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Humidity
Moderate
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Temperature
15-38°C
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Soil
Well-draining loam
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Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian Subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 m
- 📐 Spread
- 4-6 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- TOXIC — all parts contain colchicine; used in Ayurvedic medicine (after purification) for gout and arthritis
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
⚠️ Not pet safe
☠️ Toxic
TOXIC — all parts contain colchicine; used in Ayurvedic medicine (after purification) for gout and arthritis
Common issues
- Leaf spot, caterpillar defoliation
💡 Care tips
- Plant in well-draining soil with appropriate light. Tolerates Indian tropical conditions.
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