Meet the Owners of Utopia Clivas
Part 1 – The Dynamic Duo
At the helm of Utopia Clivias are Carrie and Luke Krüger, a passionate mother-and-son team dedicated to producing rare and award-winning Clivia plants, seedlings, offsets, and seeds. Their personal involvement in every aspect of the nursery—from breeding and cultivation to marketing and customer care—is what sets them apart from many other large speciality nurseries.
Utopia Clivias – Rare Clivia Plants & Seeds from South Africa
Welcome to Utopia Clivias, a premier family-run nursery specialising in rare, award-winning Clivia plants, seedlings, offsets, and seeds. Owned by Carrie and Luke Kruger, we have been dedicated to Clivia breeding and plant selection for over 20 years, focusing on superior shape, vibrant colours, and strong vigour.
Our Location – Garden Route, South Africa
Situated in Sedgefield, in the heart of the beautiful Garden Route, our climate is perfect for cultivating healthy, thriving Clivias. Since 1998, Utopia Clivias has developed many unique Clivia varieties and award-winning plants, making our nursery a sought-after destination for collectors and enthusiasts.
Our Products – Seeds, Seedlings, Offsets & Mature Plants
We offer a wide range of Clivia products for growers of all levels:
Clivia seeds: Shipped worldwide, ideal for collectors and hobbyists.
Seedlings and offsets: Carefully grown and nurtured, available for delivery within South Africa.
Mature Clivia plants: High-quality, unique varieties ready to thrive in your garden.
Each plant is grown with care, selected for exceptional quality, flower colour, and shape, and prepared for safe delivery.
Family & Legacy – Jason’s Memory Garden
Clivias are a true family passion at Utopia Clivias. All our children are involved, each with their own collections, assisting with planting, seed harvesting, and shows.
A very special part of our nursery is Jason’s Memory Garden, dedicated to Carrie’s eldest son, Jason (20), who passed away in 2009. Through this garden, we distribute Clivia seeds free of charge to young growers and students worldwide, keeping his memory alive and inspiring the next generation of Clivia enthusiasts.
Visit Utopia Clivias
We welcome visitors by appointment only, providing a personalised tour of our exceptional Clivia collection. Learn about our Clivia breeding programs, explore rare and unique varieties, and experience the beauty of these extraordinary plants in person.
Why Choose Utopia Clivias?
Over 20 years of experience in Clivia breeding and plant selection
Unique and award-winning Clivia varieties
Family-run nursery with a passion for sharing Clivias worldwide
Worldwide shipping for seeds and local delivery for plants
Dedicated legacy projects like Jason’s Memory Garden
The Face Behind the Flowers – Meet Carrie Kruger, Founder of Utopia Clivias (Part 2)
Carrie Kruger, Founder & CEO of Utopia Clivias:
"Interspecific Clivia breeding is my passion. I love introducing the world to the new generation of hybrids we have created here at Utopia Clivias."
A Life Rooted in Plants
Born and raised on a farm in Molteno, Eastern Cape, Carrie’s love for plants began in her family’s extensive gardens. Even as a child, she would dig up wild plants from the veld and pot them in old cans, nurturing her early “green impression.”
After completing her studies, Carrie met her husband, Zwaai Kruger, while working in Queenstown. They later moved to Knysna, where Carrie ran a small restaurant and cultivated her first nursery in the restaurant garden. Following the sale of the restaurant, they rented a smallholding in Sedgefield, naming it “Utopia”, where Carrie could pursue her passion for bulbs, lilies, and especially Clivias, while raising their four children.
Discovering Clivias
Carrie was introduced to Clivias by the late Oom Gert Wiese, who shared his extensive knowledge and newsletters with her. This sparked a lifelong dedication to Clivia cultivation and breeding. In 1998, after buying her first house in Sedgefield, she focused exclusively on Clivias, selling plants at the local farmers’ market and forming connections with other top growers, including Ian Vermaak.
Carrie has been a member of the Garden Route Clivia Club (GRCC) since its inception, serving multiple years on the committee, including three years as Chairperson. She also created the club’s website and Facebook page to promote Clivias internationally.
Utopia Clivias – A Legacy of Breeding Excellence
Founded in 1998, Utopia Clivias has become known for producing rare, unique, and award-winning Clivia varieties. Carrie’s primary breeding goal is to create new and unusual colours in both Miniata and interspecific Clivias, a field she is deeply passionate about.
Some of the notable interspecific hybrids bred by Utopia Clivias include:
Over the Moon
Planet Earth
Callisto
7Stars
Carrie regularly presents her breeding results to Clivia clubs worldwide, promoting awareness and appreciation for interspecific Clivias.
Continuous Growth & Innovation
Carrie continues to visit other growers during flowering seasons to select exceptional plants for her breeding program. Since 2011, she has also imported Clivias from America, China, and Japan to enrich the collection.
At Utopia Clivias, older breeding plants are replaced each season with new, exciting varieties, keeping the collection current and aligned with evolving Clivia trends. Today, the nursery spans two properties in Sedgefield to accommodate the growing collection.
Sharing Knowledge & Promoting Clivias
Carrie is committed to sharing her expertise:
Writing articles for the Clivia Society Newsletters and Yearbooks
Managing the “Clivia Cultivation” Facebook Group with over 21,000 members worldwide
Serving as Public Relations Officer for the Clivia Society, promoting Clivias online and in national magazines
Conducting talks and presentations at garden clubs, nurseries, and Clivia clubs globally
Serving as a qualified Clivia show judge, often attending shows as a guest judge
A Passion for Interspecific Clivias
Despite the long wait for first flowers from seed, Carrie believes each bloom is worth it. Promoting Clivia cultivation and breeding has been a lifelong mission, and she continues to inspire both new and experienced growers through her work at Utopia Clivias.
The Brains Behind the Business – Meet Luke Kruger, Co-Owner of Utopia Clivias (Part 3)
Luke Kruger, Co-Owner of Utopia Clivias:
"From a young age, my passion has been the pollination and hybridization of Clivias. Planning and perfecting each cross is my way of shaping the next generation of extraordinary plants."
Luke’s Clivia Journey
Luke’s love for Clivias began in childhood, assisting his mother, Carrie, with annual Clivia shows and the family stall at the Wild Oats Market. While most children his age were focused on outdoor play, Luke found fascination in plants, pollination, and the careful planning behind successful breeding.
He often accompanied Carrie to Kraaibosch Nursery in George to select plants for the nursery. Luke’s early instincts for selecting promising Clivias led him to discover unique specimens that would later form the foundation of his breeding program. In 2005, he entered his first Garden Route Clivia Club (GRCC) show, winning first place—a moment that cemented his lifelong devotion to Clivias.
Goals & Philosophy in Breeding
Luke’s aim is to develop new, successful Clivia lines, focusing not only on F1 hybrids but also on subsequent generations (F2 and F3), where the most remarkable traits emerge. He emphasizes patience and precision, understanding that the art of Clivia breeding requires years of dedication.
His breeding philosophy centers on pollination as a thoughtful, goal-driven process. Luke meticulously records each cross, continually asking:
Will this cross be successful?
Has this been attempted before, and can it be improved?
What is the flower’s potential in terms of shape, colour, and bloom quality?
Even when the first generation doesn’t meet expectations, Luke persists—adjusting variables, starting anew, or introducing new traits to achieve excellence.
Breeding Achievements
One of Luke’s early successes was a plant named Luke’s Orange, a seedling gifted by Ian Vermaak in 2009. Flowering in 2011, it produced extra-large, vibrant orange recurve flowers with full umbels. Using pollen from notable plants such as Carrie’s Green, Star Bronze, and Emmerudo, Luke produced exceptional bronze-coloured Clivias, each with full umbels and well-shaped flowers.
A standout plant from these crosses, Nebula (Luke’s Orange x Star Bronze), has become a key part of Luke’s ongoing breeding program. Today, his primary focus has shifted to interspecific Clivias, which he believes represent the future of Clivia cultivation and hybridization.
A Lifetime of Passion
For Luke, Clivias are more than a hobby—they are a lifelong pursuit and a personal passion. He sees his work with Clivias as a long-term commitment, shaping generations of breeding to come. His meticulous approach, combined with innovative thinking, continues to drive Utopia Clivias forward in both quality and global recognition.
"Clivias are my passion, my retirement plan, and my lifelong focus. The outlook for Clivias is positive, and I can only go up from here."
Contact Us
Email: utopiaclivias@gmail.com
Cell: +27 83 343 1288
Website: www.utopiaclivias.co.zaWe welcome visitors by appointment only, giving you a chance to explore our unique Clivia collection and learn more about our breeding programs.
