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We love this plant. One of the first of the hardy Zingiberaceae to bloom and the contrast of reddish bracts and orange-yellow flowers plus the underside of the leaves blushed in red.....mmmmm. We're guessing on cathcartii 'cause it isn't spicata or gracilis. Moist organic soil.
Cool member of the true Ginger family, this has torches of soft yellow flowers held above the corn-like foliage. Blooms reliably here unlike a lot of it's kin with flowers in July & Aug. Adds an easy tropical look. This has been sold as C. lutea and C. gracilis. Rich & moist but not boggy.
A collection by Daniel Winkler in Tibet of this demure little true ginger relative. We've always liked this species and saw it growing as an epiphyte on Mt Japfu in Nagaland. Late to start growing in spring, this will produce small yellow flowers from reddish sheaths. Hardy to zone 7 especially with mulch. Moist.
A collection from Nepal deemed distinct by Crug Farm Plants in Wales. From terminal bud cones in mid to late summer, yellow-orange flowers spout from prominent red bracts. The foliage is red-tinged underneath and is held on dark stems. Clumps nicely and the species as a whole is of elegant presentation. Moist, rich and mulch if winter is cold.
Cautleya have proved to be excellent plants for the garden here and one of the best is this Wynn-Jones collection from the Darjeeling area in northern India. Good red bracts hold yellow flowers in a tropical embrace during August into September in your temperate garden. Part sun to light shade in rich moist soil. Mulch in winter in case of arctic annoyance.
Be forewarned - growing this plant can lead to an obsessive and unreasoning mania for the hardy Zingiberaceae. Oh sure you laugh - how can I be entrapped by something I can't even pronounce? Put it in moist soil that drains and try not to love the orange-yellow torch-like flowers. Must have.