Roscoea humeana (Hume roscoea)


Botanical Information

FamilyZingiberaceae
GenusRoscoea
Specieshumeana
CategoryBulbs, Perennials, Tropicals
OriginDiscovered by George Forest on one of his expeditions to China in 1914 in the Lijiang Range known today as the Yulong Xue Shann or Jade Dragon Snow Mountains above the town of Lijiang in northwest Yunnan. It was not recognised as a distinct species until 1916 when Bayley Balfour and William Wright Smith named it in honour of Private David Hume who started his career at Kew in the glasshouse leaving that post to join the Royal Scots in 1906. Hume was killed in late August in 1914 in the retreat from Mons.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone6 - 9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone5a - Requires cool season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-23 - (-1)
Temperature (°F)-10 - 30
Height15 - 30 cm
Spread7 - 15 cm
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodJune, July

Description and Growing Information

PropagationBy seed sown cold frame or division.
CultivationMoist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sunlight to partial shade.
PestsSlugs and snails.
Leaf DescriptionFour to six basal leaves that grow around the stem.
Flower DescriptionPurple, three-petaled with two petals cured downward while the third, large petal grows upward.

Photographs