ROSCOEA(Zingiberaceae)
Orchid ginger
A smattering of these hardy gingers (no, that is not an oxymoron) – which are all the rage among the plant cognoscenti – have found their way into plant connoisseur's catalogs (including this one) over the past few years.
Here, we open the floodgates, offering perhaps the most extensive listing of roscoeas ever seen on this continent. Most of the below bear their
striking, orchid-like flowers in early to mid summer on late-emerging, leafy
stems. Hailing from the Himalayas and the uplands of southwest China,
they favor a modicum of shade, and humus-rich, cool, well-drained soil that's
moist spring through summer and not too damp in winter. ORDERING DEADLINE FOR THESE IS APRIL 15, 2007. IN ADDITION, NO EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES. SHIPMENT BEGINS IN MARCH.
|
| alpina
selected form ~
The relatively large, good purple flowers of this clone put it at the head of the R. alpina class. Kashmir, Nepal. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 auriculata
~
One of the larger members (20 inches tall) of this highly distinctive
and desirable genus, with bright purple, late summer flowers, their
upright, 1-1/2-inch "hood" and drooping, 2-1/2-inch "lip" giving the
impression of an orchid. The 10-inch-long, lance-shaped leaves are
dilatory, often not emerging until late May. It prefers partial shade,
leafy soil, and deep planting. Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$6 |
 auriculata
'Floriade' ~
An especially vigorous and large-flowered form of the species.
Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$11 |
| brandisii
~
First mis-introduced a few years ago as a robust form of R. alpina, this does indeed resemble
that species on steroids, producing rich purple flowers of relatively
large size (1-1/4 inches long and wide) in early summer. Himalayas.
Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$7 |
| cautleoides
~
The voluptuous primrose-yellow flowers of this, perhaps our favorite
species (along with R. humeana and R. purpurea) of one of our favorite
genera, debut in June (shortly after the
foliage emerges) and continue into July. Indispensable.
Subtropical/montane; S China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$5 |
| cautleoides
Early Yellow
~
Get a jump on the R. cautleoides season. The leaves and
flowers emerge
weeks earlier than is typical for the species. Subtropical/montane; S
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$9.50 |
| cautleoides
'Himalaya'
~
Description to come. Subtropical/montane; S China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
| cautleoides
'Jeffrey Thomas'
~
The flowers of this outstanding form have a contrasting pale-cream lip
rather than the customary yellow. Scrumptious. Subtropical/montane; S
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$7 |
 cautleoides
'Reinier'
~ An early, yellow-flowered form. Subtropical/montane; S
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$6.50 |
| cautleoides
'Vanilla'
~
The dual-purpose moniker describes not only the color of the flowers – ivory-yellow – but also the fragrance they cast. 'Vanilla' further distinguishes itself by blooming early in the cautleoides season. Subtropical/montane; S
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 cautleoides
'Yeti'
~
It's large, it's white (of a creamy sort), and it's from the Himalayas. And it's far from abominable. Subtropical/montane; S
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 humeana
~
Desire Under the Chinese Elms. Voluptuous, orchidesque, purple-rose
flowers continue from late spring into summer. Perhaps the most coveted
of the roscoeas, at least by those who possess a copy of Phillips &
Rix. Subtropical/montane; W
China. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
| purpurea
~
The purple flowers would be enough of a selling point even if they
didn't appear in July and August (on 1-foot stems), extending the
roscoea season into late
summer. Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$5 |
 purpurea
'Brown Peacock'
~
Just when we had concluded that nothing could top R. purpurea, here comes one that's
twice the size of the type with stem and leaves flushed deep maroon.
Did we hear a jaw drop? Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$12 |
| purpurea
'Nico'
~
If you fear that 'Brown Peacock' would have too much strut for your
rock garden, this does much the same thing on 8-inch (rather than
2-foot) stems. How accommodating for those with limited accommodations.
Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$6.50 |
| purpurea
'Peacock'
~ R. purpurea goes flamboyant, with
maroon
stems and pale-lilac flowers combining in a daring and dazzling color
scheme.
Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 purpurea
'Peacock Eye'
~ Actually, the white blotch is on the flower's lip, which makes for a
rather unsettling metaphor, but you get the point. 'Peacock', sporting
a white eye on its lip. Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$12 |
| purpurea
Tall Selection
~ The name tells part of the story (it's 20 inches in height). The
other part is the exceptionally large, light purple flowers, which
appear late in the season, often continuing well into September.
Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 purpurea
'Vincent'
~ Although in many ways similar to (i.e., just as spectacular as) the
previous, 'Vincent' flowers rather earlier in the season (July &
August).
Subtropical/montane; Himalayas. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$9.50 |
| scillifolia
'Tante Ann'
~ Description to come.
Subtropical; S China. Zone 7. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |
 'Beesiana'
~ With R. auriculata and R. cautleoides
as parents, how could it go wrong? Moonlight yellow, mauve-brushed
flowers on 20-inch stems for many weeks in summer. Vigorous and lovely.
Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$4.50 |
| 'Beesiana
Alba' hort.
~ A paler form of the above, fading to white.
Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$6.50 |
 'Monique'
~ This – undoubtedly the most striking white roscoea we've seen – gives the impression of a R. 'Beesiana Alba' bedecked in ballroom finery.
Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$12 |
 'Purple
King'
~ R. cautleoides has a penchant for
siring gorgeous hybrids. This regal, purple-flowered beauty is what
resulted from a fling with R.
purpurea.
Subtropical/montane. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$8 |