Hesperantha coccinea

KAFFIR LILY MIXED COLOURS

Syn. Schizostylis coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea
KAFFIR LILY MIXED COLOURS

Syn. Schizostylis coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea (commonly called Kaffir Lilies) are jewels of colour in the garden.
And amongst the most enduringly popular garden plants – because they are just so hardy, obliging, easy and bright to grow.

Jewels of colour

This is a mix of all the lovely colours that Kaffir Lilies can give – from soft pinks, through watermelons and sunrise pinks, to pillar box red and pure white. All colours are possible and all are beautiful from this seed mix.

Stars of satin atop sturdy spires

The star shaped blooms of Hesperantha coccinea shine with a satin texture that is unusual in the fl0wer world.
And the blooms are beautifully displayed, stacked up in a pyramid shape on strong stems, and set amongst fans of miniature Iris-like foliage.

Long blooming

Hesperantha coccinea happily bloom with a progression of spires beginning in early summer, on through all the warm months, until the onset of winter.
So rather than making one big display, they tend to pop a succession of spires over many months.
Hence they look great clumped together, rather than as individual specimens.

Hardy & easy to grow

Kaffir Lilies are low maintenance plants, naturally well suited to Australian gardens.
Because they are native to southern Africa, thrive in full sun positions, and are well able to tolerate summer heat and humidity, as well as winter cold and frost.
So they are valued for sub-tropical and tropical gardens because of their ability to deal with summer humidity and rain, and for cool climate gardens too, as they are also frost hardy in cold winter areas.

Stems of lovely cut flowers

Kaffir Lilies provide stems of lovely cut flowers that last well in a vase.
And their intensely coloured, satin textured stars really pop in a vase.

Enjoys heavy soil and even damp toes

Hesperantha coccinea love heavy and retentive soils, well composted and mulched.
Because in the wild they are found along stream sides and in low lying meadows with heavy soil.
Kaffir Lilies do not need a pond or a stream in the garden to grow happily. They certainly do thrive in average garden conditions, if they are given plenty of organic matter and mulch to keep the spoil retentive.
Of course they are favourites for gardeners with a pond or dam.
You can also grow them in a decorative container standing in a shallow saucer of water.
They are not fussy about soil pH, and grow well in soil on either the acid or alkaline side of neutral, as long as it is retentive.

Clump forming perennial

Hesperantha coccinea are clump forming perennials sprouting from a hardy rhizome.
Making them long-lived and persistent garden friends.
So your clump will grow denser and more prolific blooming as the years go on.
Growing strongly over spring, summer and autumn, then retiring to their sturdy rhizomes over winter.

Quick & satisfying to grow from seed

Kaffir Lilies are often grown from seed, as they are quick and easy to raise and it saves disturbing the rhizomes.

SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners and gardening with kids.

Sow any time of year indoors / or scatter directly in the garden from late winter, through spring.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now cover the seeds only very thinly, with sieved mix, washed sand, or fine grit.

Then stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath and allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

And place in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).
You can use a temperature controlled heat mat if you have one.
But it is not essential as these seeds are willing germinators.

Temperatures of 15-20°C maximum are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Then continue to keep the sown punnet moist by misting from a spray water-bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear cover or plastic bag will also help to maintain the necessary consistent, even moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 1-3 months.
It is a natural trick for this plant to stagger the seed germination to ensure some seeds will emerge into ideal conditions in the wild.
So patience – do not discard the punnet too quickly.

The emerging seedlings look like grass – so do not weed out.
Pot in and grow on until bulbs have formed to plant out in the garden.

Seed Count: 5 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds are scarce).

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