Roscoea

Roscoea auriculata is a reliable performer in my lightly shaded woodland garden. Every year the clump gets bigger and has more flowering...Read More stalks. Each stalk produces numerous purple flowers and, although each bloom only lasts a few days, the entire blooming period lasts several weeks during mid-summer. I look forward to seeing it come back year after year.

I was not very happy with its bloom time.. 4-5 days> owch! I loved the pics on here and it was only a dollar at a nursery, but I would no...Read Moret buy it again. 5 day bloom time is kinda crazy ;)
It was its first year with its roots planted in the ground, but still..
I just hope it does better next year :)

Originally I bought seed to grow this plant, but as often happens it is not fresh and did not germinate. I bought a plant which duly flo...Read Morewered, and made lots of seed. Should be planted 6" deep as is said to be marginally hardy, but is a good idea to start off in a deep pot. They will bulk up quickly, mine 5+ years from planting had over 20 stems. The tubers are yellowish and have fleshy legs radiating from a growth point.
Flowers emerge in succession from the top of the stem which resembles a bamboo, start off a deep, rich purple with white hood and fade as they get older. The plants will not show themselves until well into summer, late June to early July, but quickly grow to make a showy clump around 16" tall, and flower for many weeks. Mine do well in part shade, free draining moist acidic soil. They will self seed around the plant, but take 4 to 5 years to flower and mature, some may need to be lifted and grown on for space.

The seed I sowed fresh in the autumn, placed in a good gritty soil/ leafy compost mix outside, germinating the following spring. Pricked out to a larger tray when still quite small late summer and placed in a cold greenhouse for 1st winter. Grown outside from thence, three years later (4 from sowing) repotted with more space in large tray once foliage dies in early Novembver, some flowering in 4th year from sowing, all in 5th year. Ready 5 years from sowing once flowered to place each in a deep pot when dormant, and in the ground the following year. zone 8a UK

A tuberous perennial from India and Nepal.

Has lance shaped, deep green, glossy, stem sheathed leaves. Bears purple, hoode...Read Mored flowers with a large lip.

Flowers August-September/October

Loves humus rich, moist but well drained soil in parial shade. It needs to be kept in a cool spot and doesn't tolerate heat well. It won't tolerate winter temperatures of less than 5F either (winter mulch is a good idea even in moderate winters) so it's a touch on the fussy side.

A superb, showy, woodland plant for cool summer and moderate winter climates.

Its tubers should be planted 6 inches deep in late winter/early spring. They can also be lifted and divided at this time.