Crimson flag lily

Crimson flag lily: how do you recognise it?

Habit

A perennial about 60 cm tall and 30 cm wide, forming clumps by means of rhizomes.

Leaves

Narrow, sword-shaped and fresh green, in a fan; they die back partly or completely in winter.

Flowers

Star-shaped flowers about 4–5 cm across, in a loose spike on a straight stem, in red, pink or white, from September to November.

Flowering rhythm

The flowers open in the sun and close in dull weather.

Roots

Creeping rhizomes that spread slowly and so enlarge the clump.

Flowering: September–November · Plants: March–May · Pruning: February–March

Why grow it?

• Flowers from September to November, when most summer flowers have finished.
• The star-shaped flowers in red, pink or white give autumn a fresh splash of colour.
• A lovely cut flower that lasts well in a vase.
• The narrow, iris-like foliage forms a neat clump for the rest of the year.
• Tolerates a moist to wet spot, such as beside a pond, where many sun-lovers fail.

Crimson flag lily: where does it grow best?

• Full sun; in partial shade it flowers less.
• Humus-rich sandy, loamy or clay soil, acid to chalky, that does not dry out in summer.
• Normally moist to wet: ideal beside a pond or in a damp border.
• Plant 20–25 cm apart, in groups of at least five.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -12 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Michaelmas daisy: Flowers at the same time in purple and blue and contrasts nicely with the red flowers.
• Japanese anemone: Pink and white flowers in the same late summer, also from a moist spot.
• Ornamental grasses: Autumn plumes give a soft backdrop for the stars.
• Coneflower: Yellow flowers in late summer next to the red.

Crimson flag lily: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Plant in March–May, once the hardest frosts are over.
2. Dig a hole about 5–8 cm deep and mix in compost to hold moisture.
3. Set the rhizomes with the buds facing up and cover with 5 cm of soil.
4. Keep 20–25 cm between plants; in a pot, three or five plants per pot are enough.
5. Water thoroughly and spread a layer of compost or bark mulch.

Care

Watering

Keep the soil moist in summer: in dry conditions you get little or no flowering. It is better to water thoroughly once in a while than a little every day.

Feeding

Compost in spring; if you like, a feed for flowering plants in summer.

Mulching

A layer of compost or bark keeps the soil moist and protects the rhizomes in winter.

Spent flowers

Cut faded stems off at the base: this keeps the clump tidy and prolongs flowering.

Cut flowers

Cut the stems when the first two or three buds open; the rest open in the vase.

Tip: Give it a sunny spot with soil that does not dry out in summer, and divide the clumps every three to four years: that keeps it flowering freely.

Crimson flag lily: when to prune it?

Pruning months: February–March.

When: From late February to March, before the new shoots appear. In between, cut off spent flower stems.

How:

• Cut the dead leaves from the previous year back to a few centimetres above the ground.
• Cut spent flower stems off at the base in autumn.
• In mild winters part of the foliage stays green: cut off only what has turned brown.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April, every three to four years: lift the clump, divide it into pieces with three to five shoots and replant them straight away at the same depth.

Seed

Sow in spring in a pot of moist seed compost in a bright, warm place. Seedlings flower after a few years.

Crimson flag lily: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −12 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Fairly hardy, to about −12 °C: in most Belgian winters it can stay outdoors.
• Put a 10 cm layer of compost or leaf mulch over the clump, especially in a cold or open spot.
• In a pot: put it in a sheltered spot and protect the pot from freezing through.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: They eat young shoots and flower buds. Collect them in the evening or put down a barrier of coarse sand.
• Little or no flowering: Usually too dry, too shady or a clump that is too crowded. Water, choose a sunny spot and divide the clump.
• Frost damage: Early night frost in October or November can damage the flowers. Plant it in a sheltered spot and cut off the affected stems.
• Brown leaf tips: A sign of drought. Water and mulch.

Through the year

• February: Late February: cut back the dead leaves.
• March: Cut back the dead leaves. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant or divide. Put down mulch.
• May: Plant. Watch for slugs.
• June: Water in dry weather.
• July: Water generously. Watch for drought.
• August: Water. The buds form.
• September: Flowering begins. Cut for the vase.
• October: Full flower. Cut off spent stems.
• November: Last flowers until the first frost.
• December: Put a thick layer of mulch over the clump.

Did you know?

• Its old botanical name Schizostylis means ‘split style’; it was later placed in the genus Hesperantha.
• The name Hesperantha comes from Greek and means ‘evening flower’.
• The flowers open in the sun and close in dull weather.