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I have two plants that arrived bearing the name 'Niedrig'. They both arrived from the same supplier.
In fact, they arrived growing in the same pot. Both plants have purple stems and large lilac purple flowers. I assume that these plants were raised from seed, and so have shown some variability. The variety is said to have been selected for its early flowering, but both these plants flowered at about the same time as my other Roscoea purpurea forms, and about 10 days later than the otherwise quite similar 'Peacock'. The nursery description said: "A very early flowering selection with large purple flowers, often having a white throat, during early and midsummer. They are held in clusters in the upper leaf axils. Fleshy, stem clasping leaves. Rich, well drained soil in part shade. (5-7) 40cm." Jill Cowley says: "Small; only 25cm tall. The flower is slightly darker with a hint of red (N81C - purple/violet group) and the labellum is fairly narrow (3cm wide). It can have either a green or red stem." In the RHS Roscoea trial (2008 - 2011) it was granted an Awardb of Garden Merit under the name 'Red Neck'. In the write-up in 'The Plantsman' Richard Wilford says: "R. purpurea 'Red Neck'. This cultivar has prominently ribbed green leaves, with sheaths strongly flushed deep red-brown (183B). The distinctive pale flowers have purple (N81A) dorsal and lateral petals and labellum and staminodes paler pourple (76B). Floral bracts green flushed with red. These entries were submitted under the name 'Niedrig', which simply means 'low' and is therefore not an acceptable cultivar name." |
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| 26th August 2005 | ||
