Common Name: eared roscoea
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Zingiberaceae
Native Range: Eastern Himalaya, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan
Zone: 6 to 8
Height: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Deep purple
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High
Flower: Showy
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 6 where plants will thrive in rich, peaty, evenly moist, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Plants are considered to be hardy to 0°F. Plant tuberous roots to about 6” deep in a protected location and apply a thick winter mulch in the northern parts of the growing range in order to help protect the plant from cold winter temperatures. Plants are best sited in part shade locations. Plants greatly dislike hot direct full sun. This plant often grows well in certain moderate temperature climates along the Pacific Coast, but is difficult to grow well in most other areas of the U.S. including the St. Louis area.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Roscoea auriculata, commonly called eared roscoea or roscoea, is an erect, tuberous, rhizomatous perennial of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) featuring 3-10 upright linear to lanceolate, dark green leaves (each to 8-10” long) and axillary, hooded, orchid-like, deep purple flowers (to 1 1/2” across) which typically bloom from late summer into fall (July to September). It typically grows to 10-22” tall. It is native to the Himalayas (Tibet, N. India, Bhutan, Nepal, and China). This plant has a complicated flower structure. Each flower has one large descending petal and several smaller petals above and alongside the main petal. Plants at first blush somewhat resemble an orchid or iris. Each flower has a tube-shaped outer calyx, three purple petals (the corolla), and four staminodes.
Genus name honors William Roscoe (1753-1831) who founded the Liverpool Botanic Garden.
Specific epithet from Latin means with an ear-shaped appendage in reference to the auriculate outgrowths which appear at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath as memorialized by the sometimes used common name of eared roscoea for this plant.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for slugs and snails.
Uses
Woodland margins. Woodland gardens. Beds and borders. Cottage gardens. Rock gardens. Foundations.