Bessera is tender and must be protected from frost. Start the corms in pots under cover during March or April, or wait until the risk of frost has passed before planting them directly outside.
Out of season
Deluxe
Bring a touch of the exotic to your garden with Bessera elegans, an exquisite bulbous perennial that delivers a truly dazzling display. Also known as the coral drops plant, Bessera elegans produces delicate, pendant-like blooms in vibrant scarlet, each adorned with contrasting white markings for an elegant finish. These enchanting flowers dangle gracefully on slender stems, creating a cascading effect that adds movement and charm to borders, rock gardens, or patio pots.
Flowering in late summer to early autumn, Bessera elegans thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for brightening up sunny corners of your garden. Its fine, grass-like foliage complements the flowers beautifully, adding to its sophisticated appeal. Despite its exotic appearance, Bessera elegans is surprisingly easy to grow. Plant the coral drops corms in spring, and let this Mexican native reward you with months of floral splendour. Perfect for pollinator-friendly gardens, its vibrant blooms attract bees and butterflies, adding even more life to your space.
For gardeners seeking a touch of elegance and an unusual conversation piece, Bessera elegans is the perfect addition. Whether in containers or flower beds, its striking beauty never fails to impress.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Grow Bessera in full sun, somewhere warm and sheltered from strong winds. The delicate flower stems are particularly well suited to patio containers, although they can also grow in free-draining borders during summer.
Use peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with grit when planting in containers, making sure the pot has drainage holes. In borders, choose light, well-drained soil and avoid anywhere that remains wet after rain.
Position each corm with its growing point facing upwards, around 6cm deep. Space corms approximately 15cm apart, or plant them a little closer together in containers to create a fuller display.
Water after planting to settle the compost, then keep it only lightly moist until growth appears. Water moderately and regularly during active growth, allowing excess water to drain away and never leaving the corms in waterlogged conditions.
As the foliage begins to fade in autumn, gradually reduce watering and allow the corms to become dormant. Lift them from borders, or keep container-grown corms dry in their pots, and store somewhere cool, dry and frost free over winter.
- Botanical name
- Bessera elegans
- Flower colour
- Coral, scarlet
- Corm size
- 5/+
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 10-20cm
- Growing skill
- Requires specific conditions
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Tender/Tropical
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 60 corms per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- Yes
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Free draining
Dry - Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Multipurpose compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Gravel gardens
Exotic gardens
Rockery
Cottage gardens
Cut flower gardens - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Good for cutting
Perfect for pots
Pollinator-friendly
Fragrant
Thrives in full sun
Perennial
Packed in paper
Drought tolerant
Needs winter protection
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