Hesperantha coccinea, the river lily, or crimson flag lily,[2]synonymSchizostylis coccinea, is a species of flowering plant in the iris familyIridaceae, native to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe.[1][3] It is a semievergreenperennial 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.
Hesperantha coccinea is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens for its flowers, It is often used in floristry. Hardy down to between −5 and −10 °C (23 and 14 °F), in colder regions it is grown under glass.[5] It was formerly known in cultivation as "Kaffir lily", and is still occasionally referenced as such. However, "Kaffir" is now regarded as an offensive ethnic slur.
