Clivias show off at Te Puna

Ian Duncalf with Clivia Barbara, named for his wife. Photo/supplied

Clivia plants bred in the Western Bay of Plenty are on show at the world-renowned Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

Judy Shapland of Apata and Ian Duncalf of Te Puna together supplied 300 in-flower clivias in a variety of colours after being approached by the New Zealand agent for Gardens by the Bay.

"They want top-quality plants and can afford to bring in big plants," Ian says of the Singapore gardens. "They rotate the displays every three months and as far as I understand they're fine importing material so long as it's incinerated once the display is finished. "They have a million-plus visitors a year and a budget to match."

Ian and Judy will be among the growers with plants on display at Sunday's annual Clivia Show, being held at Te Puna Quarry Park for the first time. "I've had it at my place for several years," says Ian, "but I've always felt my benches were a bit high. You really need to look down on the flowers to appreciate them fully."

He's recently named a clivia for golfing star Lydia Ko, someone he particularly admires, and is considering naming one for Lisa Carrington. "I only name a plant when I'm reasonably pleased with it," Ian says, "and it may take a couple of seasons for me to decide if it's got the right attributes."

He reckons naming a clivia, which he always gives a woman's name, for his wife was a particularly dangerous thing to do. "Fortunately, the flower of Clivia Barbara is as beautiful as the woman."

Dry shade is the best position for clivia, which are native to South Africa. "They'll take full sun, but the more sun they get the more washed outthe flowers are. One thing they won't tolerate however, is wet feet."

Potted plants should have slow release fertiliser or sheep pellets after flowering. "If you're going to repot, do it after flowering," Ian says, "but you can leave them for four or five years and they'll be quite happy.

"I've had some in the garden for 20 years and never done a thing to them. They're a very easy, low maintenance plant and there's not much that fits in that category."

THE DETAILS
What: Clivia show - display, plants for sale, growing advice.
Where: Te Puna Quarry Park.
When: Sunday, October 2, 12pm -4pm, free entry