Cautleya Flowering Roscoea

Something wonderfully unusual, rare and exciting. Roscoea are definitely collectible and make a nice conversation/brag piece.

Roscoea cautleyoides has two-lipped, orchid-like, luminous, lunar yellow flowers that open above the foliage. Each exciting flower is around 4cm across. The ethereal flowers usually open in pairs but can have up to seven on a spike. They can even rebloom late summer/autumn. The flower colour is more intense on opening, fading gracefully with age, like so many of us. They will gradually establish into a healthy clump that will be a much admired talking point.

The sword like, deep green leaves grow to around 15cm at flowering, then up to 40cm after the blooms fade. They are around 2-4cm across.

Roscoea are tuberous perennials that hail from the mountainous areas of China and the Himalayas and are in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). They are at home in a moderately fertile to humus rich soil that is sheltered from the hot afternoon sun. They need some light to flower and grow naturally on the edge of woodlands. They can take a bit of sun, but will need more moisture to go with it. Winter drainage is important.

They look a dream in rock gardens, in patio pots, beneath deciduous or evergreen trees in a shaded bed. Plant deeply, they emerge with the late spring rains but may delay their appearance until summer. If potting choose a large (20cm plus), deep container.

Syn. R. cautleoides.