About

Harvington Raw Silk' is a perennial reaching about 30cm with fairly broad, upright, yellow-green, stem-clasping leaves. The cream flowers appear in early to midsummer in terminal clusters.

About the genus

Roscoea are tuberous perennials with arching, linear or lance-shaped leaves and showy orchid-like flowers in summer or autumn

Growing conditions

SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, North-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden

Care notes

CultivationGrow in humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, preferably neutral 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 division of tubers in spring when growth is starting
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to vine weevils and slugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free, but may be susceptible to a virus