Chlorophytum orchidastrum 'Fire Flash' Manderin

‘Fire Flash’, commonly known as orange spider plant, is an evergreen tropical perennial that is in fact very ornamentally attractive. It boasts broad, ovate-lanceolate, pointed, shiny dark green leaves (to 12” long) that appear in rosettes. This green plant foliage is highlighted by the contrasting bright orange petioles and leaf midribs which bring an orange fire-like glow to the center of each plant, hence the cultivar name of ‘Fire Flash’. White flowers bloom in dense, cylindrical, outward-arching panicles. Flowers are not particularly showy and last only one week.  

Ed's Plant Profile

• Botanical Name: Chlorophytum orchidastrum
• Common Name(s): Fire Flash, Fire Glory, Mandarin Plant, Tangerine, Sierra Leone Lil
  
• Family: Asparagaceae
• Native Range: Tanzania, Africa

Ed's Care Guide

• Care Level: Easy
• Light: Prefers bright, indirect sunlight yet is tolerant of periods of low light
• Water: Water regularly during the growing season and water sparingly when dormant (autumn and winter). Allow the top of the soil to slightly dry out before watering again. Tolerant to periods of drought. Can be sensitive to too much fluoride in water and may lead to browning tips
• Humidity: Average to High
• Temperature: 65-85F
• Pruning: Prune as needed to remove brown or dead leaves.
• Feeding: Fertilize using a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer monthly during spring and summer
• Propagation: Division
• Growth: Upright; can grow up to 1-2 FT wide and 1-2 FT high
• Common Pests:  Watch for scale, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites
• Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets