Curcuma longa

RHS Plant Profile
common turmeric

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Other common names

turmeric

Synonyms

Curcuma domestica

Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse Herbs - Culinary
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An upright tropical, herbaceous perennial producing stems to 1m (39in) high which grow from underground fleshy rhizomes. The leaves are alternate and appear in opposite rows along the stem. They are thin and oblong to lance-shaped, with pointed tips and are dark green above and light green below. Yellow to white tubular flowers appear in a cupped rosette bracts at the end of the flowering stem. The plant has been cultivated for thousands of years for the spice turmeric which is derived from the rhizome. As a result it has become totally domesticated over time and unable to set fruit, meaning that its reproduction can only be achieved vegetatively from dividing its rhizomes.

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–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
Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus
A genus of herbaceous perennial plants, some of which have edible rhizomes used to produce turmeric and curcumin. The foliage is long, dark green and lush and sometimes plants produce tall spikes of angula flowers in shades of pink, purple or white
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
India, Malaysia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a well-drained but moisture retentive soil, rich in organic matter and in indirect, bright light and in a warm conservatory, greenhouse or window indoors, in temperatures no lower than 18°C (65°F)

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove old, yellowed stems as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free