Judy Shapland and Ian Duncalf join other clivia enthusiasts to find something new and unusual at this year's show at Te Puna. Photo/supplied
This year the show comprises a display of flowering plants at Te Puna Quarry Park's gallery but, next year, the event is likely to feature an international speaker as it will form part of a North Island clivia tour for a party from overseas.
Ian, who lives in Te Puna,
says gardeners and clivia enthusiasts are always looking for something new, whether that be flower colour, flower shape or variegated foliage. "I've been playing with reds, with flowers that have green throats and with tubular flowers," he says.
"Last year at our show, a clivia with a nice green throat won the people's choice award but then in Auckland a yellow flower won, so it can be a bit of lottery." He has been steadily producing a range of peach-coloured flowers since about 2012.
Ian has noticed men "often" go for the more vivid-coloured flowers, while women are "a bit more open-minded".
Most clivia breeding in New Zealand is done by enthusiastic amateurs, meaning plants with commercial potential can be slow to come on to the market, if they make it at all. "Shows are the best place to get your hands on clivia that are new and different."
