Grandiflora
Family
Zingiberaceae
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Plant Common Name
Shell Ginger
General Description
Fragrant in all its parts, this large, clump-forming, evergreen perennial is native to tropical Asia and naturalized in other areas of the tropics. Pendulous clusters of waxy, pearly, pinkish white flowers resembling seashells appear atop tall, strong, large-leaved stems in spring and summer. The interior of each flower is yellow with a red throat. The lance-shaped leaves are variegated in some forms. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick rhizomes in spring.
Shell ginger must be grown in fertile, moist, sandy loam, in part sun to part shade. Doing well in fertile sands with a mulch layer, ensure that the soil pH ranges from acidic to slightly alkaline. It makes an excellent tropical understory plant. Cultivar 'Variegata' is smaller in stature and much more beautiful thanks to the green and yellow variegated foliage.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 5
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m
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Width
4'-8' / 1.2m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
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Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
Yes
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes