Cautleya is a small genus consisting of 3–4 species of high-altitude tropical and temperate exotic jungle gingers, native to cool forest areas of the eastern Himalayas. The plants produce popular tropical flowers widely used in the cut flower industry. They are deciduous and winter dormant. The plants are upright, clump-forming perennials 2–3 ft. high and 1–1.5 ft. in spread, with oblong, glossy, deep green leaves tinged with maroon, and stems 2 ft. tall. In summer to early fall, the plants bear 14-in., erect spikes of funnel-shaped, pale orange or brilliant yellow flowers above the lush leaves. Flowers emerge from deep red bracts, followed by dark-red fruits.

The Zingiberaceae family is mainly tropical in distribution. The unusual mountainous distribution of some Cautleya species, and closely related genera such as Roscoea

Roscoea

Roscoea is a genus of perennial plants of the family Zingiberaceae . Most members of the family are tropical, whereas Roscoea species are native to mountainous regions of the Himalayas, China and its southern neighbours. Roscoea flowers superficially resemble orchids, although they are not related...

, may have evolved relatively recently and be a response to the uplift taking place in the area due to the collision of the Indian and Asian tectonic plates

Plate tectonics

Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...

 in the last 50 million years or so.

They grow rapidly and vigorously during the summertime. The plants are reliably hardy gingers and can tolerate some frost, to −15 degrees Celsius (+5 °F). They are generally planted in rich, moist, and well-drained soils in partial shade, and are propagated from rhizomes.

Species

Cautleya cathcartii

Cautleya gracilis

Cautleya lutea

Cautleya spicata (Ginger lily)