Zingiber officinale
common ginger
grows to 1m, with lance-shaped leaves to 20cm long, narrowed to a fine point. Flowers are borne in a dense, elliptic spike on a stalk about 25cm above the rhizome, the large oblong-ovate lips, purple with yellow spots and stripes, emerging from yellowish-green bracts
Other common names
Canton gingerEast Indian ginger
see moreginger
Jamaica ginger
red ginger
stem ginger
ginger root
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1ABotanical details
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Zingiber are aromatic rhizomatous perennials with alternate, oblong leaves in two ranks, and cone-like inflorescences with overlapping, sometimes brightly coloured bracts, and 3-petalled flowers
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Tropical Asia
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant in rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil in filtered sunlight and high humidity, either directly in the border of a heated greenhouse, or in a container indoors
Propagation
From pieces of plump, fresh rhizome with well-developed growth buds, planted in well-drained, moisture retentive compost, in temperatures of 25-28C
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
Cut back old stems as they die back in the autumn
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite under glass
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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