Hesperantha coccinea, the river lily, or crimson flag lily, synonym Schizostylis coccinea, is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae, native to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a semievergreen perennial growing to 60 cm tall, with slender lanceolate leaves up to 40 cm long and 1 cm 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”.

Cultivation

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, in colder regions it is grown under glass. 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. Numerous cultivars are available, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-