Fall and the Crimson Flag
Posted in Around the Garden on November 21 2011, by Matt Newman
The Ladies’ Border is a unique element here at The New York Botanical Garden, a ribbon of lavish growth snugged in alongside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory like a well-kept secret. Walking along its narrow pathway, you pick up on a quiet sense of privacy afforded by the tall plants and trees on either side, thriving camellias and low-slung mountain pines blotting out the world beyond to bring the space into focus.
Part of that has to do with the location itself; the Ladies’ Border exists as a chance for the NYBG’s gardeners to make use of their own daring creativity, owing to the spot’s placement between the Conservatory and a rising berm on the opposing side. Together these buffers cradle a sanctuary with its own subtle microclimate, protected from the elements and always slightly warmer than its surroundings–enough so that non-native plants can occasionally thrive here in New York. This is where we find Hesperantha coccinea, blooming and vivid in spite of the weather.
It was our very own Kristin Schleiter, Acting Director of Outdoor Gardens that brought these blossoms to the Ladies’ Border. She discovered Hesperantha flourishing in the wet weather of Oregon, where it made enough of an impression to hold her interest until she came back to New York. Once home, the Ladies’ Border seemed the ideal spot to plant this foreign gem, though it would certainly be a test of its hardiness.
The scientific name speaks to the plant’s behavior, originating from hesperos (“night”) and anthos (“flower”). And true to form, many species of Hesperantha flower only in the late afternoon or evening. However, for our purposes it’s simpler to call it by one of its common names: scarlet river lily or crimson flag. The perennial hails from Africa (as do all members of the Hesperantha genus), growing along streams in tropical regions and wherever there’s enough consistent moisture to flourish. But to see it flaring into contrast with the surroundings of a New York City fall is a pleasure and a surprise. And even after the Halloween weekend’s snowfall, the vibrant little plant merely shrugs off the odds, now well into November and still bright with flowers.
We get used to overcast skies as winter makes its approach, but the gray seems to make colors like these even more rebellious. Has anything bright and petaled caught your eye on a recent walk through the NYBG? Feel free to comment below, or post pictures of your favorites on our Facebook wall. You can also have a look at a more detailed explanation of what it is we have going on at the Ladies’ Border.
