Cautleya spicata ‘Crug Compact’ BSWJ 2690

Cautleya Zingiberaceae

A particularly useful compact form of a handsome Himalayan ginger, Cautleya spicata ‘Crug Compact’ combines exotic looks with considerably more garden tolerance than its tropical appearance might suggest. It forms clumps of lush, lance-shaped leaves, with upright spikes carrying bright yellow flowers above contrasting red bracts. The form was selected by Crûg Farm Plants from their collections of Cautleya in the Himalaya, and retains the species’ distinctive woodland character while remaining compact enough for smaller gardens. Grow in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial shade, protected from drying winds. Excellent for exotic or woodland planting.

Collected in the Lachung Valley, northern Sikkim, India in 1994

Height: 30–60cm.

Spread: 40–60cm.

Flowers: July–September.

Hardiness: H4, (–10 to –5°C) with a winter mulch