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Roscoea cautleyoides 'Blackthorn Strain' was raised by Robin White at Blackthorn Nurseries
in Hampshire by crossing together purple and yellow forms of the species. It is a vigorous strain
that performs well in the garden. Seedlings are variable, some showing a fair amount of yellow
streaking in the flowers. The Blackthorn Nursery label says: "White and white striped purple forms which originate from the normal primrose type of the species. Well-drained but humus rich soil in sun or semi-shade. Late into growth." Writing in the Journal of the Alpine Garden Society, Robert Rolfe says: "Also around this time the first of the roscoeas are in flower, the front-runner being R. cautleyoides "Blackthorn Strain" (in double quotes because the useful tern 'strain' is proscribed). This plant is in every permutation from white or white-striped purplish to almost pure purple, perhaps surprisingly all the issue of a pale yellow progenitor." Under the name 'Blackthorn Hybrid', Crug Farm Plants say: "Originating from seed raised plants of R. cautleyoides 'Kew Beauty' by Robin White of Blackthorn Nursery, but now considered to be a hybrid, hence the species name has been dropped. As this resulting cross in quite variable in the mixture of the colours white and purple in streaks and zoning. Similar size to R. cautleyoides at 60cm tall after flowering, which tends to last for a long time, as they do not produce seed. |
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