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Key characteristics

Family: Iridaceae
Height: 12-24 inches
Width: 12-18 inches
Flower color: Red, pink, or white flowers with a funnel-shape
Foliage color: Green, sword-like leaves
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, requires occasional deadheading to encourage new blooms
Growing zone: Zones 7-10
Wildlife: Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies

Perennials

Hesperantha coccinea

Crimson Flag Lilly

Hesperantha coccinea is a perennial that produces clusters of bright, funnel-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of red, pink, or occasionally white. These flowers bloom from late summer to early fall, offering a burst of color when many other plants are starting to fade. The long, slender petals open widely, creating an elegant display atop tall stems that sway gently in the breeze.

Native to South Africa, Hesperantha coccinea thrives in warm, sunny environments, often found in the wild along riverbanks and meadows.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late summer to fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones

Design tip

Late flowers extend the season, so set it behind or beside plants that finish in midsummer. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.