Plant Datasheet for Costus leucanthus

The type specimen is from Colombia, at km 71 of the new road to Buenaventura in the area known as "El Valle" (Valle del Cauca). Maas only knew the plant to be from Colombia when he described it but I have seen it across the border into Ecuador at Lita and even farther south near the village of Pachijal. The places I have seen it have all been low, wet places.

ACCESSION NOTES:
R3011 from Waimea 91P294 - Collected by Maas and Plowman (the type location) in Colombia, El Valle, near km 71 of new road Cali - Buenaventura. Received thru Ray Baker, Lyon, from RBG Edinburgh #750177.

R3199 from seeds collected in Ecuador, Pachijal.

OBSERVATION NOTES:

Lita, Carchi Province, Ecuador, Latitude 0.88333, Longitude -78.48333, at 900 meters elevation.

Pachijal, Ecuador, Latitude 0.162, Longitude -78.938, at 495 meters elevation.

1.5 km N of Pachijal, Ecuador, Latitude 0.175, Longitude -78.936, at 500 meters elevation.

GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
Cotus leucanthus is rarely found in cultivation. It is from the eastern lowland jungles of Colombia and Ecuador. It grows to 8-10 feet tall with unusual triangular shaped appendaged bracts and pure white flowers with just a touch of pale yellow on the lebellum.

I have not grown it for very long and do not have any experience with hardiness, but guessing it would only be outdoors hardy in USDA zone 10 or warmer. I have always seen it growing (in nature) in sunny areas and close to streams so I would recommend moist soil and full sun for this plant in cultivation.