Crimson Flag Lily is a striking late-summer bloomer that brings bold scarlet color to gardens when many perennials are fading. Native to the damp meadows and stream banks of South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe, this rhizomatous member of the Iris family grows 12 to 24 inches tall and produces elegant, cup-shaped flowers that open outward in shades of deep crimson. Hardy in zones 7 through 9, it blooms from August into October on gladiolus-like spikes that rise from clumps of narrow, grass-like foliage, offering weeks of showy color when the garden needs it most.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-9
24in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Each flower opens to a perfect two-and-a-half-inch cup of scarlet petals, arranged in six petals that face outward with refreshing architectural clarity. The tall, leafless spikes create an airy, elegant structure in the garden, very different from the dense foliage of typical perennials. What truly sets this plant apart is its late-season timing, flowering reliably from late summer through fall when few bulbs are in bloom. It thrives in moist soils and full sun, rewarding consistent moisture with vigorous, long-lasting flower displays that last for weeks.
Crimson Flag Lily is grown as an ornamental perennial for its dramatic late-season flowers. The tall, elegant spikes with their bright scarlet blooms are valued for cutting gardens and fresh arrangements, where they add sophisticated color during the fall season. In the landscape, they work well in moist borders, alongside water features, and in mixed beds where their height and structure contrast beautifully with lower-growing plants.
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“Schizostylis coccinea hails from the damp meadows and stream banks of South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe, where it evolved to thrive in moist, seasonally flooded habitats. The plant's common names, Crimson Flag and Crimson River Lily, reflect both its scarlet flowers and its preference for waterside conditions in its native range. It was eventually introduced to cultivation in temperate gardens, where gardeners discovered it could be grown in colder climates with appropriate protection and care.”