This one is growing in part shade and about 3′ tall, I’ve one growing in almost full shade. The full shade one is much smaller, but just as variegated. The one in the shade is also in a very dry area. So these make good plants to grow in places other plants might not.
It can grow about 6′ tall and can spread to 10′. I’ve only seen them in part shade here and 3′ tall with about 4′ spreads. It prefers full sun and moist soil.
Flowers are light pink and look like sea shells. This ginger is supposed to flower all summer after the second year. This is its second year and the first flowers appeared the last week of May.
This plant was damaged by the frost last winter. After watching it I’ve decided the best thing to do is to just cut the damaged canes back to the ground. They never really recover and look ragged if you just trim the damaged leaves off. Plenty of new stalks will appear in the spring.
Each stalk only flowers once, so feel free to chop them all back at the end of the season or early spring if you are more interested in the flowers than the foliage. Or if you wish you can use this ginger like a shrub and leave the stalks in place.
There is a non-variegated version that can handle slightly cooler climates.
Propagate by division in the fall.
More Information:
Garden Web Ginger Forum
Floridata: Alpinia zerumbet
2 responses so far ↓
1 admin // Jan 7, 2008 at 2:59 pm
This is thriving and the cats live under it. The cold doesn’t bother it, at least down to 27′F. The ice storm last year did some damage but the cold doesn’t seem to be a problem.
2 ljmacphee // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:29 am
Aug. if we get cold near freezing some leaves get burned. Just trim those stalks back to the ground in the spring.
Once a stalk blooms it’s done. You can leave it for the foliage or remove the stalks after blooming, which ever pleases you.
Other’n trimming the stalks in the spring it requires no maintenance.
I have one in deep shade and one in dappled shade. Both are parked under pine trees in very dry areas. The one in the deep shade is only about a third the size of the dappled light one but otherwise doing well there.
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