Bessera elegans

Bessera elegans, sometimes called the Coral Drop or Mexican Coral, is a marvel of delicacy and brilliance that comes to us from southern Mexico. This perennial plant with a corm blooms in the second half of summer, in the form of floral stems carrying numerous bell-shaped or Chinese hat-shaped flowers, a bright coral red with white stripes on the inside. It is cultivated in open ground all year round, in shade or semi-shade, in our warm regions that are spared from frost, in a very well-drained soil. Grow it like a gladiolus or adopt it in a large pot on the terrace, to be stored dry in winter: the effect is guaranteed!

The Besseria genus, related to Triteleia and Brodiae, includes one or two bulbous Mexican species belonging to the lily family. Only Bessera elegans is commonly cultivated for its ornamental qualities. This species is native to southwestern Mexico, where it grows in the undergrowth up to 1500m (4921ft) altitude. In nature, it is a very variable plant in colour and size that is adapted to a very contrasting climate, with dry winters and rainy and hot summers. The selection we offer generally reaches 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) in height when flowering, although it can sometimes, depending on the growing conditions, reach up to 70cm (28in). This perennial herbaceous plant has a small corm (storage organ), 5 to 6cm (2in) in circumference. The foliage emerges more or less early in spring, encouraged by the heat. At that time, it is frosted with a purple iridescence. It then develops into long and very narrow basal leaves, dark green in colour. The floral stems often emerge at the same time as the leaves, but only take off in summer. If the vegetation has started early enough, the flowers will bloom in late July or early August. Each floral stem carries up to 30 flowers, 5cm (2in) in diameter, directed downwards, grouped in umbels at the top. They may resemble small umbrellas and are composed of 6 lanceolate petals surrounding a white perianth enclosing prominent bright red stamens. As soon as the foliage fades, the plant goes into dormancy. It is essential that this period of dormancy takes place in a dry environment and is spared from frost.

Bessera elegans is a somewhat capricious plant but of great beauty, relatively easy to cultivate if one manages to provide it with growing conditions similar to those it experiences in nature. While it does not have any specific soil pH requirements, it does require the soil to be light and well-drained. Growing it in pots allows it to spend the bad season dry and sheltered from heavy frosts that are fatal to it, but also to admire its summer flowering up close and from below, which is of uncommon delicacy and elegance. On the terrace, it will thrive in semi-shade alongside Asian lilies, a Fuchsia regia, ornamental ginger, or even a Billbergia nutans.