Cautleya spicata ‘Arun Flame’

Cautleya Zingiberaceae

A rather splendid piece of Himalayan jungle in miniature, Cautleya spicata ‘Arun Flame’ is a distinctive collection from eastern Nepal, gathered by Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones with Dan Hinkley and Jamaica Kincaid in 2002 (HWJK2172). Dark red stems to around 1m carry dense spikes of rich yellow flowers flushed orange, emerging from striking deep-red bracts, while the leaf undersides are attractively tinged purple-red. Grow in sun or semi-shade in humus-rich, free-draining soil that remains reasonably moist; surprisingly drought tolerant once established. An exotic-looking perennial without the tropical fuss.

Height: 80–100cm.

 Spread: 40–60cm.

Flowers: July–September.

 Hardiness: H4, (–10 to –5°C); mulch in colder areas.