 |
Roscoea humeana is a splendid small plant that makes a fantastic show in a pot and is a favourite with alpine gardeners. It is quite late to appear above the ground,
often not showing until mid may and then immediately producing flowers. These are usually purple, with a broad dorsal petal.
The species varies from purple (R.h. f.tyria) to yellow (R.h. f.lutea) with occasional white flowered plants appearing. As these enter cultivation,
the number of named forms being distributed is increasing. I have grown a number of colour forms but I find them a bit fickle. Grown in pots, they seem to need repotting frequently. Out in the grden they are not very vigorous and although they persist, they remain as single stems rather than clumping. Jill Cowley says: "Roscoea humeana can be found in south-west China in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces growing on ledges and in crevices of dry limestone cliffs or on grassy, rocky hillsides, screes, alpine meadows, open calcareous pastures, and amongst scrub on margins of thickets and mountain forests. It is found at altitudes between 2900 and 3800m and flowers from April to July." The emphasis on 'dry' and 'limestone' in that description of the habitat may explain why the species does not seem to prosper in my damp, slightly acidic loam. |
|
| 6th June 2006 | ||
