Clivia robusta grows in the swampy areas on the wooded riverbanks in rock crevices under a closed canopy in the southern coastal area of the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The plants are usually between 120 and 180 cm tall with 10-20 light green tufted leaves. The leaves are between 40 and 125 mm wide and 120 to 180 cm long and have a notch at the slightly rounded tip. However, specimens as large as 5 metres have been found in the wild.
The orange-red drooping flowers with pronounced green tips vary in colour from pink to dark red and are similar to C. gardenii. Occasional colour variations of yellow peach and apricot have been found. The flowering period is from May to July. Whilst some plants are already producing seeds, others are still in bud. The berries contain one or two large seeds that ripen in about 12-15 months after pollination. These plants can be ready to flower after just 4 years.
