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CURCUMA alismatifolia 'Siam Violet'

Image of Curcuma alismatifolia 'Siam Violet'

Family

Zingiberaceae

Botanical Name

CURCUMA alismatifolia 'Siam Violet'

Plant Common Name

Hidden Ginger, Siam Tulip, Siam Violet Ginger

Special Notice

This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.

General Description

With an upright flower of pink-violet, the Siam tulip is acutually a deciduous perennial from the warm tropics. A ginger, selection 'Siam Violet' flowers from late spring into early summer. A short stem rises with a overlapping clusters of pink-violet bracts (modified leaves) that last for several weeks. The typically blue-green foliage is somewhat pleated and can partially hide the flower stems.

This ginger is best grown with high humidity, partial sun to partial shade, and in a sandy loam rich in organic matter. It makes a nice specimen for tropical gardens but will still go dormant in the cool winter or dry season. In cool climates it may be planted outside, but its rhizomes must be dug and stored for the winter. In non-tropical areas the flowering is delayed until summer and early fall.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 9

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    9 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

  • Width

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer

  • Native To

    Southeastern Asia

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Pink, Fuchsia, Violet

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Blue Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Blue Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Blue Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    Yes

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No