Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Zingiberaceae
Botanical Name
Zingiber spectabile
Plant Common Name
Beehive Ginger, Pinecone Ginger, Showy Ginger
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Creating one of the tropical world's most unusual flowers, showy ginger produces a beehive-looking cylindrical bract that displays small purple and white flowers during the warm months. This tender herbaceous perennial grows from a rhizome (an underground stem) and typically goes dormant when cool winter temperatures or seasonal drought develops. It is native to the streamsides and moist lowlands of Malaysia and southern Thailand.
With the return of warmth and rains in springtime, the tall stiff stems emerge from the ground, unfurling long, lance-shaped leaves that are rich green. Each blade is slightly glossy with an underside that is downy. Crush a leaf and smell a familiar gingery scent. In summer, round to oblong flowering structures rise from the soil at the base of the plant, usually no higher than your knee. The architectural collection of scoop-shaped yellow and red bracts (modified leaves) will house the small true flowers that are purple and white with yellow spots. Once the true flowers fade, the beehive-like or pine cone-like "flower" remains, slowly fading to red brown before fully drying to brown.
Grow showy ginger in partial sun to light shade locations in soils that are not alkaline. Moist, well-draining soils are ideal and must be fertile and rich in humus for finest plant performance. Since this ginger is seasonally dormant, it is best planted among evergreen shrubs and herbs in a rainforst setting so the bare spot is not as blatant. The beehive-like bract structure is long lasting as a cutflower, lending an exotic, decadent look to an arrangement.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 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'-12' / 1.8m - 3.7m
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Width
4'-8' / 1.2m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Southeastern Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange
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Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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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
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
