ROSCOEA alpina ____________________________________ Type: Perennial Height: 4-8" (10-20 cm) Flowering Time: Spring Flower Colour: Pink ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Commelinidae Order: Zingiberales (Ginger Order) Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger Family) Genus: Roscoea Species: alpina (alpine) ____________________________________

Roscoea alpina is an unusual short bulbous plant in the Ginger Family. It has leaves only slightly wider than grass and about 6" high, with fairly insignificant, but interesting, two-tone pink hooded and lipped flowers in late spring or summer. Perhaps better grown in a trough or alpine house where it can be more easily admired.

The naming of Roscoeas is erratic, and the normal flower colour of Roscoea alpina is purple, but mine is from seed labelled 'Pink Form'. It could be confused with Roscoea scillifolia, but this is apparently taller!

Growing conditions are also confusing. I grow mine in a scree in the open, where it is multiplying despite the attention of slugs, but several books indicate it should be grown in shady conditions.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Spring Inside (40 days) Deno (10 days) Winter Outside (117 days)
Seed Pod The seedpod is a thin leafy cover over the seeds. Seed The seeds are brown ovals with a white aril. There are many seeds in rows in the seed pod. Seedling The seedling has a single wide grassy leaf.