Schizostylis coccinea - crimson flag lily

Schizostylis coccinea 'Rosea' is a beautiful variety of the cape lily, a vigorous rhizomatous perennial that thrives on the banks of water bodies and in wet meadows. In autumn, the plant produces floral spikes with about ten beautiful star-shaped pink flowers, somewhat reminiscent of gladiolus flowering. The foliage, in dense and spreading tufts, persists in regions with mild winters. Apart from its relative hardiness, it is easy to grow in sunny locations with any moist soil.

Schizostylis coccinea, also known as Hesperantha coccinea, is a plant from the Iridaceae family, like gladiolus, iris, and crocosmia. It is also called scarlet gladiolus. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with rhizomes, native to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Its cold hardiness does not exceed -10°C (14°F) for a short period. Growing rapidly, this cape lily forms slender, spreading tufts, reaching about 50cm (20in) in height and 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in spread. The plant colonises the soil through its rhizomes. The foliage persists during winter in regions where there is not much frost. The leaves are slightly trailing, ribbon-like, and dark green in colour. They measure 1cm (0.4in) wide and up to 40cm (16in) in length. The flowering is late, usually appearing between September and November. From the foliage, slender floral stems emerge, each bearing 4 to 10 alternate flowers. Each flower is composed of 6 petals and measures approximately 3.5 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. In 'Rosea', the flowers are a beautiful bright and fresh pink.

Plant Schizostylis coccinea 'Rosea' on the moist banks of a pond or at the edge of a bed in damp soil, alongside knotweeds, lobelias, and lysimachia, for example. This plant does not tolerate drought and requires regular watering when rainfall is scarce. You can also grow it in a pot, keeping the substrate consistently moist. In this case, overwinter the pots frost-free in a bright, unheated room. The flowers are beautiful and long-lasting in bouquets.