Want a houseplant that looks like it’s lit from the inside? Meet Fire Flash, the orange spider plant. Its glossy, dark green leaves sit on bright orange leaf stalks, and the orange runs right up the center of each leaf. Put it in the right spot and the whole rosette seems to glow.
It’s a cousin of the familiar spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), but it grows very differently: a broad, upright rosette instead of a fountain of thin, striped leaves. Fire Flash is one of several plants sold as spider plants; see our guide to spider plant varieties. And it comes with one of the messiest name tags in the houseplant world.
What’s In A Name? Fire Flash, Mandarin Plant And Chlorophytum Amaniense
If you’ve seen this plant sold under three different botanical names, you’re not imagining it. Here’s what the sources actually say.
- UF/IFAS Extension researchers, who wrote the commercial growing guide for it, call it ‘Fire Flash’ (Chlorophytum amaniense). They say it was introduced to Florida from Thailand in the late 1990s but actually comes from the rainforests of the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, East Africa. They call ‘Fire Flash’ the only recognized cultivar in the species and note it has also been called ‘Mandarin Plant’ and ‘Tangerine’.
- NC State Extension lists Fire Flash, fire glory, green orange spider plant, mandarin plant, mandarin spider plant and Sierra Leone lily under a different species, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, which it describes as native to the seasonally dry tropics of West Africa.
- Missouri Botanical Garden lists the plant simply as Chlorophytum ‘Fire Flash’ and says it is sold under several names, including Chlorophytum amaniense, C. amaniense ‘Fire Flash’, C. orchidantheroides, C. orchidastrum, C. filipendulum amaniense and C. ‘Fire Flash’.
- Botanical name lists such as GBIF’s taxonomic backbone now treat Chlorophytum amaniense as a subspecies, Chlorophytum filipendulum subsp. amaniense, and keep Chlorophytum orchidastrum as a separate species.
So which is right? The sources don’t agree, but all three describe the same orange-stalked plant. In this article we use “Fire Flash” and Chlorophytum amaniense, the names the commercial growing guide uses.
Fire Flash Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Sold as Chlorophytum amaniense; also listed as Chlorophytum orchidastrum; treated as Chlorophytum filipendulum subsp. amaniense in botanical name lists
- Common names: Fire Flash, orange spider plant, mandarin plant, mandarin spider plant, green orange spider plant, fire glory, Sierra Leone lily, tangerine
- Family: Asparagaceae (older references place it in Liliaceae)
- Origin: Usambara Mountains of Tanzania (West Tropical Africa to Zambia is given for C. orchidastrum)
- Size: About 12 inches tall indoors and up to 24 inches outdoors; other figures give 8 to 16 inches tall and 16 to 24 inches wide
- Hardiness: USDA zones 11 to 12, or 10b to 12b in some listings; protect from frost
- Light: Bright, indirect light or part shade; no direct sun, no deep shade
- Temperature: Above 60°F; 70 to 90°F year-round; 68 to 75°F indoors
- Humidity: 50 to 60%
- Water: Water when the top inch is dry and don’t overwater; keep the mix evenly moist
- Soil: Well-drained, organically enriched potting mix
- Fertilizer: Light feeding only; the leaves are extremely sensitive to chemicals
- Flowers: Small white to cream, star-shaped flowers on a spike from the center in summer; not showy
- Problems: Brown leaf tips, leaf scorch and chlorosis from too much light, root rot, leaf spot; scale, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and spider mites
- Propagation: Division or seed
- Pets: Tagged non-toxic for cats and dogs
What Fire Flash Looks Like
Fire Flash has broad, pointed, shiny dark green leaves up to 12 inches long, arranged in rosettes. The show-stopper is the contrast: bright orange leaf stalks (petioles) and midribs that give the center of the plant an orange, fire-like glow. That glow is where the cultivar name ‘Fire Flash’ comes from.
The leaves taper to a point with wavy edges, and the plant has an erect, clumping habit. Indoors it typically stays about 12 inches tall, and outdoors it can reach 24 inches.
Flowers And Seed Pods
Fire Flash does bloom, but it’s grown for its leaves. Small, white to creamy white, star-shaped flowers appear along an 8-inch spike from the center of the plant in summer. Bloom time is July to August, and the flowers are not particularly showy and last only about one week.
After pollination, the plant forms green, triangular seed pods that turn brown and split open to release their seeds.
Most growers snip the spikes off. Remove the flower spikes as they appear unless you want seed. There’s another reason, too: developing flower spikes compete with the plant for nutrients and can cause yellowing leaves, and the dried-up spikes spoil the plant’s looks.
Fire Flash Care
Light
Bright, indirect light keeps the orange bright and the leaves clean. Avoid both direct sun, which can cause leaf scorch or chlorosis (yellowing), and full shade.
Too much light is the bigger risk. Nurseries grow Fire Flash under heavy shade, and the most common problem in production is leaf yellowing followed by dead patches (necrosis), with too much light first among the causes (along with poor feeding and chemical damage). Indoors, trials found it tolerated very dim interior light for a year, which makes it a good fit for an office or a room without a sunny window.
A practical tip: the best spot indoors is often found by simply trying a few different places and watching how the plant responds.
Temperature
Think warm. Fire Flash prefers moderate temperatures above 60°F. The best year-round range is 70 to 90°F, and 68 to 75°F is most appropriate indoors.
Cold is the danger. Chilling injury may occur if the plant sits below 50°F for more than 12 hours, a figure given for plants being shipped. Keep it away from cold windows and doors in winter.
Humidity
This plant likes moist air, ideally 50 to 60% humidity. Plants prefer a humid growing environment to keep the leaf tips and edges from browning, so try setting the pot on a shallow tray of wet pebbles or misting the leaves regularly in dry weather.
Brown tips are the classic sign of dry air: brown leaf tips are the result of low humidity, and the leaf tips are prone to browning. Water quality can play a part too (see below). For the full list of causes, see our guide to brown tips on houseplant leaves.
Watering
Aim for moist, never soggy. Water when the top 1 inch of potting mix is dry and avoid overwatering. The plant needs evenly moist soil, and the mix should be kept slightly moist indoors. Put those together and you get a plant that doesn’t want to dry out completely, but doesn’t want to sit wet either. Always use a pot with drainage holes.
Water quality matters with this one. Fire Flash may show dead leaf tissue and damage if its water contains high concentrations of fluoride or sodium. If your tap water is fluoridated and the leaves are browning, rainwater or distilled water is worth a try.
Soil And Repotting
Drainage comes first. Use an organically enriched potting mix. The plant thrives in well-drained, loamy soil, and adding perlite and sand to a potting mix improves drainage for houseplants. For commercial growers, most potting mixes with 40 to 50% sphagnum peat plus pine bark and vermiculite work, at a pH of 6 to 7.
Repotting may be needed every 1 to 2 years, or when the plant becomes root-bound, and that spring is the best time.
Fertilizing
Go easy. The leaves are extremely sensitive to chemicals, so growers are warned not to feed through overhead sprays. Nurseries use a controlled-release fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 2-1-2 ratio and check salt levels in the mix. Indoors, plants should not be fertilized unless the salt level in the mix is low.
For a home plant, that means a light hand: a little slow-release or diluted fertilizer during spring and summer, applied to the soil, not the leaves. Follow the label for the amount.
Grooming
Occasional grooming is needed to remove old, spent leaves and the flower spikes that develop. Handle the plant gently: the leaves are fragile, which is why nurseries ship each plant in a protective sleeve.
Skip the leaf-shine products. Given how sensitive the leaves are to chemicals, a soft, damp cloth is the safer way to dust them.
How To Propagate Fire Flash
You have two options.
Division. Fire Flash can be propagated by division. Spring, when you’d repot anyway, is a natural time to split a crowded clump.
Seed. ‘Fire Flash’ bears viable seeds, and nurseries grow even, uniform seedlings by sowing them in moist potting mix in shaded greenhouses at 70 to 85°F. If you want to try it, leave a flower spike on the plant and let the pods ripen and turn brown.
Fire Flash Pests And Problems
The good news: this plant is generally insect and disease-free, and few disease and pest problems have been noticed on it.
Yellowing (chlorosis) and dead patches. The most common problem is yellowing leaves followed by dead tissue, caused by too much light, poor feeding and chemical damage. Move the plant out of direct sun and go easy on fertilizer and sprays.
Brown tips. Usually dry air; high levels of fluoride or sodium in the water can also damage the leaves.
Root rot and leaf spot. Both are potential diseases. Good drainage and not overwatering are your best defense against rot.
Insects. Watch for scale, aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and spider mites. Check under the leaves and where the leaf stalks meet the center.
Go carefully with sprays. Growers are told not to spray chemicals on the leaves unless absolutely necessary, because of the risk of damage, and to test any chemical on a few plants first.
Related (for the common spider plant): Why Is My Spider Plant Floppy?
Is Fire Flash Safe For Pets?
The plant is tagged as non-toxic for cats and dogs. The ASPCA doesn’t list Fire Flash itself, but it lists its cousin, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Still, keep it where pets can’t chew it: torn leaves are no fun for you or the plant.
Ways To Use Fire Flash
In most of the United States, Fire Flash is a houseplant. Plants in 6-inch pots suit office desks and tabletops, while plants in 8-inch pots work best as floor plants. Its tolerance for low light makes it a good office plant.
In frost-free gardens (USDA zones 11 to 12, or 10b to 12b in some listings), it can go outdoors in a shady spot or a patio container. It’s a great ornamental for indoors or outdoors and easy to grow.
Is your Fire Flash glowing orange, or has it gone a bit pale? Tell us where yours lives!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Fire Flash plant?
Fire Flash is the orange spider plant, a broad-leaved relative of the common spider plant with bright orange leaf stalks and midribs. It’s sold as Chlorophytum amaniense and comes from the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, but it is also listed under Chlorophytum orchidastrum and sold under several other botanical names.
Is Chlorophytum amaniense the same as Chlorophytum orchidastrum?
Not according to botanical name lists, which keep Chlorophytum orchidastrum as its own species and treat Chlorophytum amaniense as Chlorophytum filipendulum subsp. amaniense. Where sources disagree is which name belongs on Fire Flash: it is listed as Chlorophytum amaniense in some references, Chlorophytum orchidastrum in others, and sold under both, plus others.
How much light does a Fire Flash plant need?
Bright, indirect light is best. Avoid both direct sun, which can cause leaf scorch or yellowing, and full shade. Too much light is the first cause of yellow, damaged leaves, and the plant has tolerated very low indoor light for a year, so it works well in offices.
Why does my Fire Flash have brown leaf tips?
Dry air is the usual cause. Brown leaf tips are the result of low humidity, so aim for 50 to 60% humidity and try a tray of wet pebbles or regular misting in dry weather. Water high in fluoride or sodium can also damage the leaves.
Is the Fire Flash spider plant safe for cats and dogs?
It is tagged as non-toxic for cats and dogs. Fire Flash itself isn’t on the major pet-toxicity lists, but the closely related spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats. It is still best to keep the plant where pets can’t chew the leaves.