Turmeric and Galangal

Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

Galangal (Alpinia galanga)

Coming out of their long winter hibernation after being placed in boxes and covered in a mix of sand and perlite, these Asian spice plants are ready to plant out.The pointed buds are starting to swell and are changing colour from pink to pale green. In less than a month new leaves will start to push their way through the earth and thereafter growth will be rapid. The galangal will soar up to one and a half metres by the end of summer.

Ginger Harvest

Freshly dug Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

I planted ginger rhizomes last September and though they were slow to shoot at first, they grew at an incredible rate over summer. They are now ready to be dug as the green tops are just starting to die down. I am leaving some of the clumps in the ground and laying off on the watering so the plants don't rot if we get a really cold wet winter. The ginger left in the ground will be dug towards the end of the year so that the young pink tender rhizomes can be harvested.The young ginger is my favourite sort as the skin peels off easily and the flavour is not as strong. With this harvest I am going to freeze some and the rest I am going to peel and cut into knobs, place them in a jar and cover with dry sherry or Shao Xing Hua Diao wine which will keep it fresh for weeks.

Cheilocostus speciosus 'Variegatus', Spiral Ginger

Cheilocostus speciosus 'Variegatus'

New to me....It grows to about 1.5 metres and like other "Gingers" it likes rich moist soil in a sunny or partly shaded position that is sheltered from cold wind during winter if growing in a temperate climate.
2017 update: I no longer grow this.

Zingiber spectabile, Bee Hive Ginger

Flowers of Zingiber spectabile, Bee Hive Ginger

This ginger is from the so called 'cool tropics', the hill country of Thailand and thus it will grow as far south as Sydney but getting it to flower is another story. It flowers well in Brisbane and down as far as Coff's Harbour but I have not seen it do so locally. It likes a spot in semi shade with rich soil containing plenty of organic matter. Planting it close to a path means you can admire the unusual flowers up close. Cut flowers have a long vase life and look very exotic in a modern arrangement.

Hedychium hybrid, Yellow Butterfly Ginger

Hedychium hybrid 
Yellow Butterfly Ginger

Hedychium (pronounced he-DIK-ee-um) gingers can be a bit difficult to identify as there is some confusion about the species flavum and flavescens , both of which get called yellow ginger but neither of which look like this one. The big selling point of these plants is that they have a strong perfume which is like a cross between honeysuckle and gardenia . They also have a reasonable tolerance of cold as they can act like a perennial and go dormant over winter. (US zones 7-11). I like to admire them in other peoples gardens but no longer grow them because of the stem borer which seems to affect all but our native species. The plant above shows signs of stem borer by the distorted and weak top leaves. The borer will often work its way from the centre of the plant causing the tips to be starved of moisture . Badly affected plants may flower poorly or not at all. Providing gingers with a good rich soil and plenty of soil moisture over summer is a way of ensuring that damage caused by this pest is kept to a minimum for those who wish to have a go at growing them.

Costus productus, Spiral Ginger

Costus productus Spiral Ginger

This is one of the small (1metre) clump forming Gingers which is in flower continually during the warm months. It is native to Peru where it enjoys a moist humus rich soil, growing as an understory plant of trees and palms. It is evergreen in the tropics but it in cooler climates it becomes dormant and may die down completely over winter. During this time it is best kept on the dry side if growing it in a pot and ensuring well drained conditions in a garden bed. Cold and damp may rot the rhizomes. It can be lifted and divided in Spring and new growth and flowering is rapid if given a side dressing of fertilizer.
2017 update: i no longer grow this. It prefers a more sub tropical climate.

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Blue Ginger

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora 
 Blue Ginger

This electric blue flowering Ginger is from southern Brazil and is quite a hardy plant .It will tolerate a light frost and can be grown over a range of climates. It does best in semi shade in humus rich soil but will tolerate sun and can cope with periods of dry as well. Flowers appear in early summer and continue well into autumn and are produced on stems about 1.5 metres tall. Eventually it forms a size able clump which can be divided up like any perennial. It is also fairly easy to grow from cuttings being in the Spiderwort Family: Commelinaceae it produces clear divisions along the stem (nodes) which are easy markers as to where to take cuttings.
2017 update: I still grow this and have plants available from time to time.

Hedychium coronarium, White Ginger

Hedychium coronarium
 White flowering Ginger

If you go to Hawaii you may be given a leis made up from the sweetly scented flowers of this ornamental Ginger, though these plants have become a bit of an invasive weed plant there.This one is native to India and south western China and grows to about 2 metres .The flowering stems can become a bit top heavy and lurch sideways so it is best given plenty of space to grow. Flowering continues well into April and old flowering stems are best cut off to keep the plant tidy and productive. It does best in a semi shaded position with a rich moist soil but will tolerate less fertile sites by growing less tall but still flowering.
2017 update: I no longer grow it because of its susceptibility to stem borer.

Etlingera elatior, Red Torch Ginger

Etlingera elatior 
Red Torch Ginger

This is one tropical plant I can't grow but some friends do grow it in their garden in far north Queensland so I have seen it up close .It is another ginger family plant which forms a huge running clump up to 3 metres tall . It grows in the shade under trees, so to see the flowers you have to walk into a dark cool spot to view the extraordinary flowers .What a marvel of nature!

Costus barbatus 'Red Tower'

Costus barbatus "Red Tower'

This is one of the hardy members of the ginger family which is quite tolerant of cold, though it becomes perennial in the cooler climates and disappears underground for a couple of months. It grows to about 1.7 metres and stays as a small well behaved clump flowering for many months well into autumn. The inflorescence is made up of red bracts and small yellow flowers which are supposed to be edible though I have not tried them. This Costus will grow in sun or shade and needs a bit of protection from wind.
2017 update: I have a plant of it but have not done any propagation. It is certainly a hardy plant and quite good in a pot.

Hedychium flavescens, Cream Ginger

Hedychium flavescens 
 Cream Ginger

Ornamental Gingers have become quite popular in recent years and as they are native to mountainous regions in the tropics (this one is from east India) they are adaptable to more temperate climates and are frost hardy.Some such as Hedychium gardnerianum, the yellow ginger, like it a little too well here and can act like a garden thug spreading by thick rhizomes and difficult to dig out once established. It has even become a bushland weed especially in cool moist gullies where clumps can spread for a couple of metres across and are just as tall. It is clearly visible locally in such a spot if driving the Bulli Pass road.

It is the perfume of gingers which is the real attraction,as all have a strong sweet scent with lemon and gardenia overtones.The flowers are good for picking. sitting atop tall stems of large tropical leaves ,they make for dramatic arrangements.The perfume will fill the room on a late summer evening. In the garden ,old flower stems need to be removed once flowering has finished . Sometimes borer attack the stems and are noticed by the small holes at the base of the stem and the withered growth of the top. Otherwise they are fairly hardy but perform best in semi-shade with reasonably moist fertile soil.

Alpinia zerumbet, Shell Ginger

Alpinia zerumbet 
 Shell Ginger

The 3 metre tall clump forming Shell Ginger is a great screen plant and is hardy over a range of climates from cool temperate to tropical. It is a reliable flowering plant and the porcelain white flowers have a pink flush to them and open to expose a red and yellow throat. The flowering stems arch over gracefully so it needs plenty of room to show off its true beauty. Maintenance involves cutting off old flowering stems and trimming any dead leaves , It is hardy in sun or shade and has no special growing requirements though will develop best in reasonable garden soil with some added compost.
2017 update: I have a plant in the garden but no longer grow it for sale.