Possibilities of C. nobilis as new cultivars

Of the four Clivia species (C.miniata, C.gardenii, C.caulescens and C.nobilis), C. nobilis has a different leaf quality. I think this point is important to keep in mind when breeding new clivia cultivars. The leaves of C.nobilis are hard, leathery and also serrated along their margins. When you see the overall form of C.nobilis, you will notice that there are spaces between each leaf because the leaves are partially erect. I believe that C.nobilis are found in coastal areas, so they have developed hard and partially erect leaves in the process of evolution so that they could minimize the friction against the sea breeze. Furthermore, their hard leaf surfaces protect them from the rapid evaporation of moisture.


　　　
Left : C.miniata with Akebono variegation x C.nobilis
Right : C.miniata with median striped variegation x C.nobilis


In Japan or China, as people find the beauty of C.miniata in its leaves (not in its flowers), they have made great efforts to breed the strain that has short and broad leaves. In Japan, we call this strain "Daruma". The "Daruma" strain is a unique result of clivia breeding. I think we can also breed similar cultivars like "Daruma" with short, broad and hard leaves by using C.nobilis in the breeding.



C. miniata with striped variegation x C.nobilis


I guess that the Japanese "Daruma" strain was bred from Belgian or German C.miniata hybrids with long but broad leaves. However, I have no idea how people found C.miniata with broad leaves in the habitat. Consequently, I just wonder if Belgian or German breeders bred the broad leaf strain by using colchicines or a growth retardant. Anyway, I believe that we can breed new cultivars with leaves that are hard like C.nobilis, broad like "Daruma" and also that have Akebono variegation. We can not call this new cultivar C.nobilis in the correct sense, as these are actually C.nobilis hybrids.
Mr. Nakamura was early to spot this idea, and he has bred variegated hybrids with hard leaves from the hybridization of C.miniata with Akebono variegation x C.nobilis, and C.miniata with Fukurin variegation x C.nobilis.



C.miniata with Akebono variegation x C.nobilis


In particular, the hybrid bred from C.miniata with Akebono variegation x C.nobilis has very clear white Akebono variegation compared with the usual Akebono plants(C.miniata). Unfortunately this hybrid has long and thin leaves, but Mr. Nakamura can expect new hybrids with hard and broad leaves through his continuous breeding in the future.
(Shigetaka Sasaki and Revised by Ms. Helen Marriott)