Plant of the Month October: Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’

Formerly known as Schizostylis coccinea, Hesperantha coccinea is a South African plant that has become a much-loved garden perennial in temperate climates. The cultivar ‘Major’ is particularly valued for its strong flowering display and vivid colour.

When many summer flowers are beginning to fade, Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ steps into the spotlight. With its vibrant crimson-red flowers appearing from late summer into autumn, this elegant perennial brings colour to the garden at exactly the time when it is most welcome.

One of the great attractions of Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ is its flowering season. While many traditional border plants are finishing for the year, its bright, open flowers emerge above neat clumps of slender, grass-like foliage.

The flowers are a striking scarlet or crimson-red, with six delicate petals surrounding a contrasting centre. They are held on slender stems, giving the plant an airy appearance that works beautifully among grasses, late-flowering perennials and autumn bulbs.

On a sunny day, a group of ‘Major’ plants can create a particularly eye-catching display.

There are plenty of reasons to make room for this colourful perennial:

• Late-season flowers bring valuable colour into the autumn garden.
• Brilliant crimson-red blooms stand out among softer autumn shades.
• Slender foliage gives the plant an elegant, grass-like appearance.
• Moist soils are no problem, making it useful for parts of the garden where other plants may struggle.
• It combines well with other perennials and grasses in mixed borders.
• Clumps can be divided, allowing established plants to provide new planting material.

This is a versatile plant, but it particularly appreciates a sunny position with moisture-retentive soil. It can cope with some light shade, although flowering is generally better where the plant receives plenty of sunlight.

Its natural association with moist environments makes it an excellent choice for areas of the garden where the soil does not dry out quickly. It can work especially well beside ponds and streams, in damp borders, or towards the front of a mixed perennial planting.

That said, it doesn’t need to be confined to a waterside setting. Given reasonably fertile soil and adequate moisture during the growing season, it can perform very well in an ordinary garden border.

Plant it in fertile, moisture-retentive soil and keep it watered during prolonged dry spells, particularly while it is becoming established. A mulch of organic matter in spring can help retain moisture and provide nutrients.

After flowering, the foliage can be left in place for a while before being tidied as it dies back. Established clumps can eventually become crowded, at which point they can be divided and replanted to maintain vigour and create new plants for other parts of the garden.

If you’re looking for a perennial that can brighten the garden in late summer and autumn, when the garden is beginning to look dull and bare, Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ deserves a place on the list.