Cautleya spicata
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
Cautleya spicata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Moist shady places at elevations of 1000 - 2600 metres in Nepal.
E. Asia - Himalayas.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
The pith of the stem is eaten as a vegetable.
Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The juice of the rhizome is used in the treatment of stomach disorders.
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Requires a sheltered sunny position in a well-drained soil. This species is not very cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c. It can succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain, especially if given the protection of a south or west facing wall.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at 18°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in the greenhouse. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division as growth commences in the spring. Dig up the clump and divide it with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that each division has a growing shoot. Larger clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a greenhouse until they are established. Plant them out in the summer or late in the following spring.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 7-10
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist