A Star is Born: The Story of Star Green
By Carrie Kruger, Utopia Clivias, South Africa
The name “Star Green” makes every clivia grower green with envy. This unusual and strikingly unique clivia truly stands out, taking clivia breeding to an entirely new level. I was fortunate to acquire one of the first Star Green plants released by Charl Malan and Philip Crous. Since then, I have done extensive breeding with this plant, though many seedlings are not yet flowering.
My Star Green Breeding Experience
While my Star Green seedlings are not yet at flowering size, I plan to share results in a future article once they bloom. In my breeding program, I used pollen from Star Green 2 on a Picotee interspecific, first introduced to the EP show by Charl. I have since added several siblings to my collection:
Star Green 2 – very similar to the original Star Green
Star Bronze – a beautiful bronze with white and green in the centre
Star Struck – pastel bronze with white and green in the centre
Cromwell Bronze – bronze flowers with a striking white and green centre
Two of my crosses with Star Green 2 as pollen parent flowered last season. The green-stemmed seedling produced a dark butter yellow flower with hints of green, while the pigmented-stemmed seedling mirrored Star Green’s colours and has been named Tartan Green. My experience confirms that pigmented stems often yield more interesting results.
The History of Star Green
The story of Star Green is fascinating but not widely known:
In 1997, Charl Malan received seeds from Mr. Nakamura — an exchange of 31 different crosses.
Each batch was numbered 1–31, with batch No. 13 described as “Special Seed.”
Charl grew 15 seeds, Philip Crous grew the remaining 9.
Out of batch 13 came Charl’s Green, Star Green, and the Cromwell Bronze range — all sibling plants.
Challenges of Working with Star Green
Star Green plants grow slower than most clivias and are highly susceptible to disease and root rot. They do not self-pollinate reliably, and their pollen must be harvested immediately when the flower opens. Successful pollination requires extra care and attention.
Both Charl and Philip have sold their Star Green plants and offsets. These unique plants are now in the hands of a select few breeders, keeping alive the hope for unusual and stunning clivia colours in the near future.
Looking Ahead
I am excited to continue breeding with Star Green and its siblings. Each cross offers the potential for new, unique colours that will inspire clivia enthusiasts worldwide.
All these plants are being registered on the International Clivia Register and Checklist, ensuring their legacy for future breeders.
