Description
A rare and little seen species from high screes in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and environs at very high altitudes around 3,800-4,700m. This requires alpine conditions in cultivation but is readily grown, and is a lovely, early-flowering, bright yellow species.
Some of the earliest photographs shown soon after this plant came into cultivation, show dingy grey flowers which are long past their best, the true colour is a good bright gold, flecked internally with red-purple with a bronzed patina running along about half of the length of the flower externally. This is a larger, strong growing form. Normally quite a small species in both bulb size and above ground parts, but with “normal” sized flowers.
Very cold hardy but disliking excess winter wetness this is ideal under alpine house conditions in a sharply drained mix, cold over winter with abundant water (and feeding) in spring once growth starts and then traces of water throughout the summer so that is is never dessicated.
