Roscoea

ROSCOEA

Roscoea is a large genus of around 18 species, ocurring along the Himalaya, Western China and into North Vietnam. They are all dormant during the winter, and are often late coming into growth in the spring. In common with many plants from continental climates (hot summers, cold winters) they wait until temperatures are consisently high before starting into growth. The latest of them do not appear above the ground until late May, or even June. They grow vigorously during the warm season, if they are kept moist, and then die back suddenly in autumn to a short resting rhizome with fleshy roots. They are all cold hardy in the UK during winter, but they are susceptible to excess water in winter when dormant.

There is a certain amount of confusion surrounding them in cultivation. I have been growing all those I can obtain in the hope that things will become clearer. Sadly, that has yet to happen. I present here the names and plants as I grow them, and welcome comments on their identities.

31st July 2007
Identification problems have been eased by the publication of 'The Genus Roscoea' by Jill Cowley, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. My copy has just arrived, and I will update identifications and names as I get a chance.

Roscoea alpina

Roscoea alpina CC1820

Roscoea alpina 'Leaping Salmon'

Roscoea auriculata

Roscoea auriculata 'Favourite'

Roscoea auriculata 'Floriade '

Roscoea auriculata 'Good Purple'

Roscoea auriculata 'White Cap '

Roscoea australis

Roscoea australis Good Purple

Roscoea australis KW22124

Roscoea x beesiana

Roscoea x beesiana 'Alba '

Roscoea x beesiana Dark Form

Roscoea x beesiana 'Monique'

Roscoea x beesiana 'Pale Form'

Roscoea blanda T154

Roscoea brandisii

Roscoea brandisii Pale Form

Roscoea brandisii 'Purple Giant'

Roscoea capitata

Roscoea cautleyoides

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Blackthorn Strain'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'China White'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Early Purple'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Early Yellow '

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Himalaya'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Jeffrey Thomas'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Kew Beauty'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Last Emperor'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Mauve Form'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Purple Giant'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Purple King'

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Reinier'

Roscoea cautleyoides f tyrium

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Vanilla '

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Yeti'

Roscoea cautleyoides Yunnanensis White Flower

Roscoea (cautleyoides x purpurea)

Roscoea (cautleyoides x tibetica)

Roscoea Chen Yi T482

Roscoea debilis

Roscoea forrestii

Roscoea humeana

Roscoea humeana 'Inkling '

Roscoea humeana 'Long Acre Sunrise'

Roscoea humeana 'Lutea'

Roscoea humeana 'Rosemoor Plum'

Roscoea humeana 'Snowy Owl Seedling'

Roscoea humeana T150

Roscoea humeana T153

Roscoea kunmingensis elongatobracteata

Roscoea kunmingensis kunmingensis

Roscoea nepalensis

Roscoea purpurea

Roscoea purpurea 'Brown Peacock'

Roscoea purpurea CC1757

Roscoea purpurea KW13755

Roscoea purpurea 'Nico '

Roscoea purpurea 'Niedrig'

Roscoea purpurea 'Peacock'

Roscoea purpurea 'Peacock Eye'

Roscoea purpurea 'Purple Stem'

Roscoea purpurea 'Purple Streaker'

Roscoea purpurea 'Red Gurkha '

Roscoea purpurea 'Rosemoor Form'

Roscoea purpurea 'Short Form '

Roscoea purpurea 'Tall Form'

Roscoea purpurea 'Vincent'

Roscoea purpurea 'Wisley Amethyst'

Roscoea schneideriana

Roscoea scillifolia 'Black Form'

Roscoea scillifolia 'Pink Form'

Roscoea (scillifolia Pink x purpurea Brown Peacock)

Roscoea sinopurpurea

Roscoea tibetica

Roscoea tibetica Pale Pink

Roscoea tibetica T147

Roscoea tibetica "yunnanensis"

Roscoea (tibetica x beesiana Pale Form )

Roscoea (tibetica x cautleyoides Last Emperor )

Roscoea (tibetica x purpurea Brown Peacock)

Roscoea tumjensis

Roscoea wardii