Propagating Barclaya rotundifolia (Round-leaf Orchid Lily)

How to propagate Barclaya rotundifolia by dividing its rhizome-tuber and raising true seed from self-pollinating cleistogamous flowers, with rest-period care tips.

Overview

Barclaya rotundifolia is a dramatic centerpiece species with large, deep-bronze rounded leaves and a metallic sheen. Despite a common label of "spores," Barclaya is not a fern: it is a flowering plant in the water-lily family Nymphaeales, growing from a creeping, sometimes tuberous rhizome. That means it propagates like a lily — by dividing the rhizome-tuber and by true seed from its flowers — not by spores. It is a root feeder that demands rich substrate and warm, soft water and goes through rest periods.

Propagation Method

Two methods work. The first is vegetative division of the rhizome-tuber: as the genus forms slender, creeping, often tuberous and stoloniferous rhizomes, established plants can produce daughter bulbs at the base, which are separated and replanted. The second is true seed. Barclaya flowers are often cleistogamous — they self-pollinate, even underwater, without opening — so they easily set seed in cultivation, swelling at the flower base and eventually releasing tiny spiky (echinate) seeds.

Step-by-Step

Grow the parent plant strongly in rich substrate until it flowers or forms a daughter bulb.
For seed, let the self-pollinating flower base swell into a rounded seed pod over several weeks.
Collect the tiny spiky seeds once the pod ripens and bursts, and sow them over fine substrate under bright light.
Transplant the young plantlets after a few weeks of growth once they have several leaves.
For division, after the plant dies back following seeding, lift the bulb and detach any daughter bulb that has formed.
Rest the bulb on top of the substrate until roots and leaf sprouts appear, then plant it with the sprouts pointing up.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

Barclaya wants warm, soft water: 24–30°C, pH 5.5–7 and low GH of 2–8, over a nutrient-rich aquasoil substrate. Provide medium to high lighting; bright light in particular favours seed germination and seedling growth. CO2 is helpful but not strictly required for this slow-growing midground centerpiece reaching about 30 cm.

Maintenance

Feed it through the roots with root tabs near the bulb, given its high nutrient demand. Remove old or melting leaves at the base. Like many tuberous lilies it may enter a rest period, dying back after flowering and seeding; leave the bulb in place during this dormancy and it will usually re-sprout once conditions stay stable.