Roscoea purpurea - 2016

This is one of the colour variations of purpurea isn't it? Not sure I am keen on the tone. Have you ever grown from bought seed successesfully? I see an ad on this page for mixed Roscoea.

Sue - this should be the true species and looks very similar to the photo of R. purpurea forma purpurea in my book on the family. I bought it from Avon Bulbs who are reliable for naming and supplying the correct material.

I have not grown them from seed, but my book gives the following guide:
"Roscoea seed is best sown fresh, as soon as it has been collected in autumn .... Sow in a pot of free-draining soil mix and cover them with a thin layer of soil and a fine layer of grit .... Place the pots outside so they are exposed to the cold in winter. Do not let the pot dry out. Germination usually takes place in early spring, as the weather warms up, at this point the seed pots should be given some shelter to protest the delicate seedlings. Once they are large enough to handle, the seedlings should be pricked out into individual pots."
Source: The Genus Roscoea by Jill Cowley

Thank you for the information, Andrew. Fresh and bought are maybe not synonymus. A pink I bought just seeds itself each year, ie truly fresh seed.

Sue - my book also suggests any seed that is not fresh should be soaked for 24 hours to offer a better chance of germination.

Well any self sown seeds will definitely get a soaking this year.