PlantFiles: Sierra Leone Lily
Chlorophytum 'Fireflash'

This is a fairly easy plant to grow but it does not like any sun to be near it. If exposed to bright light the leaves will develop brown freckles, it does well outside under a tree with deep shade in the warm months. Inside, it likes to be away from the window with no sun touching its leaves. It likes to be moist but is forgiving of a VERY short period of dryness.
The cats are not allowed into the plant room but since it doesn't have grass-like leaves they probably won't be trying to eat it.
The flowers are interesting but the seed pod is amazing. It seems every seed has germinated underneath the parent BUT none of them show any intention of developing orange coloring. So far the only way I have propagated it is by division.
I have had it for three years and it is staying compact and the coloring is still vivid and the green and orange make a beautiful plant for the collection. It isn't a flashy plant; it doesn't have runners, or show-off flowers, or outgrow it's space in 6 months. It just sits quietly and slowly grows and always looks good. Sometimes that is enough to make it a great plant.

I keep mine in a greenhouse in partial shade like an african violet and no direct sunlight. I keep getting flowers & seeds but no seedlings. I keep on squeezing the seedpods to get the seeds out and on top of moist potting soil. Will try the paper towel method next. I love the plant. Out of one plant, I divided, I got six. Very happy with it.

I've been growing this beautiful plant for a year now, indoors near a window with indirect bright light, it's done great and looks as good as when I first purchased it.

Recently purchased one and had it potted at the nursery. Since bringing it home the leaves are beginning to become edced with black. It starts with the tip of the leaves turning black and dry and continues down both edges of the leaf. Can't find any reference to this on any material.

I tried to get two through the winter in pots on the porch with overhead protection.They made it, but don't look very good. I would say they are not hardy. Night temps of mid thirtys -fortys are more than they can take. They also seem to be deep shade plants outdoors. Not comparable to the common spider plants.
2009: It's still alive outdoors. Through the 07 cold and 09 almost as cold. Slugs have done damage-so not immune like it's cousin spider plant. Slow growing-but I haven't been on top of giving fresh soil I admit.

I recently purchased a plant labeled Chlorophytum "Mandarin Plant". When I googled it, it came up C. orchidanteoides, but it doesn't look much like these [and these don't seem to look much like each other]. Is there wide variation in this species?

Just got one of these and trying to find hardiness information on it... one source says it can handle zone 9 OK, but another says it's tropical (it's from tropical Africa) and suffers when temps get into the 40s... hmmm. Guess I'll find out this winter. Fantastic looking plant! Rubbery leaves and incredible color.

I love this plant. It's very fashionable right now and although it doesn't produce the runners that a green and white spider does it still produces flowers at the base of the plant. One plant I have has produced seedlings.

The coloring is wonderful, orange is my favorite color! The plant is easy to grow and develops best in good light.