Native to eastern Asia, this plant is a rhizomatous, evergreen tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) tall in tropical climates. It bears funnel-formed flowers. Flowers have white or pink perianths with yellow labella with red spots and stripes. There are three stamens, but only one has pollen. There is one pistil. The fruit is globose with many striations. In more typical conditions, it reaches 4 to 8 ft (1.2 to 2.4 m) feet tall in the green house, and 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) feet tall, as a house plant. It was originally called Alpinia speciosa, which was also the scientific name of torch ginger. To avoid the confusion, it was renamed as A. zerumbet while torch ginger was reclassified in the genus Etlingera, no species is called A. speciosa. today.
Verigated Ginger Care
Alpinia Zerumbet
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Humidity
High
Lighting
Full Sun
Temperature
16°C - 18°C
Hardiness zone
8 - 10
Difficulty
Medium
Hibernation
Cold period
How to Care for the Plant
Water
During its growing season, this plant requires plenty of water. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, but also ensure it is not soggy constantly. It is not a drought-tolerant plant and will suffer greatly without proper irrigation, especially during the summer season.
Pruning
Cut variegated ginger flowers, which can hang 12 inches down from the tips of the canes, when the flowers just begin to open. Include a long section of stem and just cut the remainder of the cane to the ground to use them in floral arrangements.
Fertilizer
If growing in containers, make sure to feed the plant every month with liquid food.
Sunlight
Filtered sun, Partial sun
Soil
Grow variegated ginger outdoors in rich, moist soil with lots of organic matter in full sun to part shade. Wait until the threat of frost has passed to move containers outside or to plant in the ground.
Temperature
Variegated ginger isn't frost tolerant, and a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit is required for optimal growth.
Container
Elephant Ear and Asparagus Fern make a great plant combination for a container garden-and they're both easy to grow
Additional
Variegated ginger, Alpinia zerumbet is a native of India, and is widely used in the U.S. as an ornamental. None of the sources that I have found list variegated ginger as being toxic for cats. Variegated shell ginger is widely used as a tough landscape in mild climates. Plants grow in upright clumps from heavy, fleshy rhizomes that look (and smell) like that of culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale). The rhizomes produce stout, slightly arching stems with evergreen leaves.
Popularity
2,264 people already have this plant 323 people have added this plant to their wishlists
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