In case you were wondering what the five raised beds alongside the Begernia trial 2007-2009 were for, one of the Roscoea planted there in has risen to the occasion to give visitors to the trials field a sneak preview. Just two weeks after planting, Roscoea cautleyoides AGM (H4) 1993 has broken the surface and produced a single flower!
This latest rock garden plant trial of 101 currently available Roscoea species and cultivars is set to run until 2011, with assessment by the Rock Garden Trial Sub-Committee to commence in 2009. What is particularly exciting about this trial is that it will also run in near entirity at RHS Harlow Carr, so that the performance of the taxa can be assssed in the south east and the north east of the country and the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) be recommended to taxa considered excellent for ordinary garden use.
A full index of entries can be found at http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials_list.asp
and more information about Harlow Carr at http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Gardens/harlowcarr/