Alpinia vittata (v)

RHS Plant Profile
variegated ginger

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variegated ginger RHS
variegated ginger RHS

Synonyms

Alpinia albo-lineata
Alpinia tricolor (hort.) Sand.
Alpinia sanderae

Conservatory Greenhouse

An upright, evergreen perennial with almost-stalkless, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves vividly-striped with white and cream. Hanging flowerheads appear in summer, consisting of pale green flowers surrounded by pink bracts

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Zingiberaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Alpinia are evergreen, clump-forming perennials with ginger-scented rhizomes. Strong, slender, reed-like stems to 3m high support lance-shaped leaves and sprays of flowers with showy, colourful bracts
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE Pacific islands

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under heated glass in peat-free, loam-based compost with 25 percent added leaf mould and the same of composted bark. They require bright, filtered light and are more likely to thrive in a border than in a container that constricts growth

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in heat as soon as ripe, or divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut out flowered stems in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free