Roscoea purpurea 'Wisley Amethyst'

RHS Plant Profile
roscoea 'Wisley Amethyst'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Roscoea purpurea 'Wisley Amethyst'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
roscoea 'Wisley Amethyst' RHS
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
9 Suppliers

An erect perennial to 50cm tall, with strap-shaped leaves and orchid-like white flowers 6cm across, heavily splashed with purple on the lower lip, and opening in succession in summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Zingiberaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Roscoea are tuberous perennials with arching, linear or lance-shaped leaves and showy orchid-like flowers in summer or autumn
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant tubers 15cm deep in winter or early spring. Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, leafy, moist but well-drained soil, in a cool, sheltered site in partial shade. In frost prone areas apply a deep winter mulch

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering

Pests

May be troubled by slugs and vine weevils

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to a virus