Curcuma alismatifoliaSiam Tulip

The flower spike of Curcuma alismatifolia is what sells it: a stack of pink or purple bracts held clear of the foliage on a slim stem, tulip-like from a distance and long lasting both on the plant and as a cut stem. Below it sits a neat clump of upright lance-shaped leaves.

It is a seasonal performer from the monsoon forests of northern Thailand, growing hard through the wet months and retreating to a dormant rhizome when conditions dry, which is worth designing for rather than fighting.

Specifications

• Height0.45 to 0.75 metres
• Width0.3 to 0.5 metres
• Native toNorthern Thailand, Laos and Cambodia
• FoliageUpright, lance-shaped mid-green leaves in a basal clump; herbaceous, dying back to the rhizome in the dry season
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers rich, moist, free-draining soils
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate to high in growth, then dry through dormancy
• ClimateThrives in tropical and subtropical regions with a distinct wet season

Additional Features

• FlowersStacked pink or purple bracts on slim stems through summer, excellent as cut stems
• UsesSeasonal bed and border colour, container display, interior flowering pots and cut flower production
• SpacingPlant 0.25 to 0.3 metres apart for a solid block of flower
• Low MaintenanceStraightforward in growth; needs a dry rest once the foliage dies back
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound where the rhizome is not left wet in dormancy
• Seasonal AppealA defined summer display followed by a clean dormant period

The Siam Tulip brings a long, reliable summer flower to beds, containers and interior schemes.