Grow Gingers!

by Karinluise Calasant

Imagine growing “ice cream cones,” golden “beehives,” flaming “torches” and exquisite, jeweled “pagodas”! How about growing your own soap and shampoo? These are all tropical gingers. Most grow quite well throughout Florida.

The ginger of commerce, Zingiber officinale, rarely flowers. Its culture is not discussed in this article.

Like heliconias, gingers grow from underground rhizomes, with the most conspicuous part of their bloom being colorful bracts. The true flowers are tucked into those bracts.

Unlike the heliconias, gingers are known for the fragrance of both their blooms and leaves.

Gingers can take more shade than heliconias and many make impressive container plants. Some are seasonally dormant and will sprout once moisture — and warmth — return.

The exotic-looking blooms of many gingers are long lasting and valuable as cut flowers or use in tropical floral displays. If left on the plants, the blooms can be enjoyed for many months. Cut, they will last for ten days or more.

Zingiber spectabile “Beehive” ginger. Photo by Karinluise Calasant — Zingiber spectabile *“Beehive” ginger. Photo by Karinluise Calasant*

Gingers want fertile, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. These are understory plants that need partial shade. Morning sun is ideal. Full sun will scorch leaves and blooms. The rhizomes must be protected from freezing (in North Florida, cover with a deep layer of mulch or plant in a container).

Tropical gingers need at least ten months of warm temperatures for the rhizomes to mature. Once mature, the plants require several months of temperatures above 70-degrees F. for the flowers to develop. When temperatures drop below 50-degrees F., the plants die back and go dormant. Growth will resume when the weather warms (as long as the rhizome has been kept from freezing). Dry weather will also cause dormancy. In South Florida, some of the dormant species do not always die back.

Varieties to grow include:

Alpinia includes 200 species of evergreen herbs from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Rhizomes and leaves are highly aromatic. Flowers of some Alpinias are more ornamental than others. A. purpurata and its cultivars “Jungle King”, “Jungle Queen” etc. — the “ice cream cones” are recommended. All are tropical and must be heavily mulched or container-grown in colder areas.

Costus are a large group that many consider part of the gingers even though their rhizomes and leaves are not aromatic. C. barbatus is long-lasting as a cut flower and at home in South Florida. Its true flowers are edible.

Curcuma, Globba and Kaempferia are often called “Hidden Lilies,” “Dancing Ladies” and “Peacock Ginger” respectively. These are all seasonally dormant and can be grown in containers. They aren’t really suited as cut flowers.

Etlingera elatior is a tropical evergreen plant called “Torch Ginger.” This is a majestic plant that can grow up to 20 feet high, though most likely to around ten feet in South Florida. It has 8 inch wide flowerheads that emerge directly from the ground. It requires protection from wind and rain. Because of its size, this plant isn’t suitable for containers.

Zingibers popular for Florida are Z. spectabile or “Beehive”; Z. macrodenium or “Chocolate Ball”; Z. neglectum or “Jewel Pagoda”; and Z. zerumbet or “Shampoo” ginger. These all have showy ornamental cone-like inflorescences (called strobili). They are seasonally dormant, and propagation is by division or (sometimes) stem cuttings. Cut flowerheads can last up to two weeks, and flowerheads can last for months if left on the plant. Shampoo ginger blooms will need support in arrangements as they are heavy with liquids inside the bracts. To get the soap, you must squeeze the bloom.

Resources

A recommended online source for rhizomes includes Plantgrouphawaii.com (Hawaii). Ebay also offers rhizomes, but buyer beware. Some of the sellers don’t know their plants and descriptions can be misleading. Don’t waste your money! Actual plants can be much smaller than shown in photos.

Sometimes you can find potted ginger plants locally at nurseries or plants sales, which can be preferable because (a) rhizomes are sprouted, (b) you can see what you’re getting and (c) you don’t have to pay postage or permit fees. On the other hand, varieties are limited. Locally sources plants can be a good place or first-time growers to start, however.