About
Roscoea cautleyoides, the cautleya-flowered roscoea, is a tuberous perennial to 45 cm with erect stems bearing narrow, dark-green leaves and short terminal spikes of orchid-like, yellow flowers 4 cm wide in summer. A beautiful and distinctive tuberous perennial for a sheltered, moist, well-drained woodland border.
About the genus
Roscoea are tuberous perennials from the Himalayas and China with arching, linear or lance-shaped leaves and showy, orchid-like flowers in shades of purple, pink, yellow or white in summer or autumn. Excellent plants for sheltered, moist, well-drained rock gardens and woodland borders.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesRock garden, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Native toW China
Care notes
CultivationGrow in humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. A cool, sheltered site in partial shade is ideal; in very cold areas apply a deep winter mulch. If growing from a tuber, plant 15cm deep
PruningRemove faded flowers, the rest of the plant will die down naturally
PropagationPropagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe. Propagate by division of tubers in spring when growth is starting
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to vine weevils and slugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free but a virus may be a problem