Dear All, Here are a couple more notes on Roscoea from the Trillium list that the authors have given me permission to share: "Brian wrote: They must need "proper" dry winters. And I now "wonder" what "proper" dry would mean. Since EVERYONE knows it rains without end in the Pacific Northwest (we are currently concerned about another possible drought year) and we here are officially a Zone 8 but some of us "think" that is usually too large a number one could conclude we are not Roscoea country, but one would be WRONG. WE grow at least 6 supposedly different ones but...some may be in fact identical. They are slow to emerge and may "want" warmer summer soil than some get here in the shade, but they are persisting and self sowing to the point of being "invasive" by some standards. Regards, Russ -- Russell Graham - Purveyor of Plants - grahams@open.org - Zone 7 - Salem, Oregon <grahams@OPEN.ORG> and "In regards to your Roscoea question, we have had a reasonable amount of success with several species of Roscoea and one hybrid. They are all growing in partially shaded conditions in a humus rich, though freely draining soil. Pretty much all of them are very slow and late to emerge in the spring - some waiting until June. I personally think that Roscoea along with some of the Arisaema, (eg. A.candidissimum and A. fargesii), that have a similar habit of appearing late represent a genetic link between plants and animals. Just as many animals can sense fear, so too can these plants. Just as they sense my fear and anxiety that they won't return, they begin to nose through the ground, and this represents still another link - they feel pity. Anyway, we are growing the following species in our Zone 5 gardening in western Massachusetts: Roscoea aff. tibetica TEC 071-00 Roscoea alpina Roscoea auriculata Roscoea cautleoides Roscoea humeana Roscoea purpurea Roscoea tibetica Roscoea x beesiana Hope this is helpful. I too am curious to hear what other experiences people have had with this fascinating genus. Tom Clark Gardens Supervisor Botanic Garden Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA 01075 <tclark@MTHOLYOKE.EDU> ps I found a couple more posts From Australia Hello All, Just 2 cents' worth about roscoeas from down under. My mintemp is only -3C (occasionally a little lower) so I can't add anything to the hardiness question. They grow like weeds here too, especially RR. scillifolia and cautlioides, seeding all over. I grow mine in shade, well drained but very moist through winter. Of those I grow (much the same list as others have mentioned,) my favourite is the large, white R. purpurea v. procera, originally from seed from Joe Elliott's wonderful "Broadwell Alpines" nursery. The ground colour of white is striped down the lip with bright purple. Maddeningly, it has not set seed for me in 30-something years, except ONE year, when it set seed then died! (Do plants KNOW their time is up and produce propagation material to compensate?) Anyway, I literally lost (mislaid) the seed but was able, a few years ago to replace the tuberous roots from a friend who'd had it from me in the first place. (Good reason to share things around!) For now, I'm looking forward to when that fabulous R. `Red Ghurka' is available, and to the exquisite pure white form of R. humeana, pictured a few years ago in the Alpine Garden Soc Bulletin. Cheers, Lesley - <mailto:galaplantsandlesley@hotmail.com>galaplantsandlesley@hotmail.<mailto: galaplantsandlesley@hotmail.com>com and >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > This genus also is a late starter for me, just like Arisaema candidissimum and fargesii. Other tropicals, now outdoors in my garden (USA zone 6) > covered by very thick mulch, that do not start to grow until summer is well on its way I am interested that Roscoea are OK in zone 5 and 6, as I have lost cautleoides 2 times, and beesianum, in pots left out of my cold frame by mistake in past winters. Other roscoea have survived OK planted out in the garden. They must need "proper" dry winters. Brian Whyer, zone 8'ish, Buckinghamshire, UK