Gloriosa superba lilies are valued as much for their medicinal uses as for their distinctive, showy and vividly colored blooms. While its unusual climbing habit makes gloriosa superba an eye-catching addition to any home garden, its extreme toxicity requires the most cautious of handling.

Also known as the climbing lily and glory lily, Gloriosa superba is a tender to hardy perennial of the family Colchicaceae. Its name is taken from the Latin "gloriosis," meaning "splendid," perhaps a reference to the gaudy scarlet, yellow or combination colors of the blooms this unassuming tuber yields.
Its bright colors and airy appearance, with six backward-pointing tepals over six slender stamens and a very long pistil, give a glorisoa superba blossom the appearance a hovering butterfly. The tendrils of its 2 to 3 inch bright green lance-shaped leaves add to its ethereal air.

Description from Flora of China