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River lily (Hesperantha coccinea)

Description

Hesperantha coccinea (river lily or crimson flag; syn. Schizostylis coccinea Backh. & Harv.) is a flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a semievergreen perennial growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall, with slender lanceolate leaves up to 40 cm (16 in) long and 1 cm (0.4 in) broad. The flowers are red, occasionally pink or white, 30–35 mm long, with six petals; they are produced four to ten alternately on a spike in late summer to autumn. The Latin specific epithet coccinea means “bright red”. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens for its flowers, used in floristry. It is only hardy to between −5 to −10 °C (23 to 14 °F); in colder regions it is grown under glass.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum: Magnoliophyta

        • Class: Liliopsida

          • Order: Asparagales

            • Family: Iridaceae

              • Genus: Hesperantha