Cautleya gracilis

Cautleya gracilis is a pretty perennial with pale-yellow flowers on vibrant green foliage.

Often confused with Cautleya spicata, this species differs quite distinctly from the latter. The straight and stiff stems bear sword-shaped leaves and they are a brighter green than those of C. spicata. Similarly, the flowers are not carried in large dense spikes, but arranged at the top of the stalks. They are slender and delicate, have long stamens, and are pale-yellow in colour. This species spreads slowly with the help of its rootstocks without ever becoming invasive.

These perennials have an exotic appearance. They originate from the Himalayas. In our garden, we cultivate several species, for years, without any specific protection.