In principle, clivia of one species colonise an area and this results in intraspecific competition. The strongest plants prevail and weaker ones die off. Mutation formation is favoured.
In addition, colonisation areas of different species sometimes overlap and natural hybrids are the result. This is known as interspecific competition. The first natural hybrid was described in 2006 as C. x nimbicola. This is a cross between C. miniata and C. caulescens. There are also said to be naturally occurring hybrids between C. miniata and C. gardenii.
However, the interspecific hybrids created through breeding are much more interesting for the enthusiast. It all began in Europe in the 19th century with the crossing of C. nobilis with C. miniata and is known as C. x cyrtanthiflora. In the past, these plants were often referred to as C. nobilis in ignorance. The reason for this is presumably the pendulous inflorescences which do not occur in the otherwise widespread C. miniata. Whether the original form still exists today is questionable due to further cross-breeding.
In the meantime, many hybrids have been created by crossing and multiple crossing of the different species, so that the plants are very difficult to categorise. The originally intended designation of the individual hybrids is hardly possible. The breeders stick to the full names of their crosses in order to provide possible proof of the origin of the plants. This results in names such as: (C.miniata x (C caulescens x C. miniata)) x C. miniata or also: (C. miniata/orange x C. miniata/yellow) x (C caulescens x C. miniata/yellow).
These statements are of less importance to the connoisseur and are primarily of interest to breeders. The hybrids resulting from these crosses are characterised by interesting colours and leaf shapes. There are hardly any limits to the creations.
Private crosses can also produce very beautiful colours and shapes. In most cases, however, these rarely go beyond the F1 generation, so that stable F2 populations are usually created by the breeders.
