End-of-Autumn Downunder - Costus speciosus variegata or Variegated Crepe Ginger

They're gorgeous! I'm so envious! lol! :>)

I just love the texture of the underneath of these leaves. They really do feel like silk! I'm still waiting for those first blooms though. I can't wait to see if they look and feel like crepe!

Yes, the leaves underneath have the silky hairs. I have such bad luck with Costus...most species despise the hard water here in San Diego.

It seems that hard water really doesn't agree with a few plants. That's a real shame.

Actually, there's many plants that hate our hard water here in San Diego.

I think the roots of my Costus barbatus is still under the Jacaranda tree. I need to dig them out and try to revive the plant.

I've started breaking off stems of both my Costus plants and just shoving them into pots. They've taken off brilliantly. I'm amazed just how hardy they actually are!

I've heard they can grow easily from cuttings, haven't tried it yet, though. I know blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) grows very well from cuttings.

The blue ginger is one ginger I've had trouble with. I've tried growing it in different spots here but it's never taken off. Obviously the conditions are just not right!

Blue Ginger does well in semi-shade with lots of good water (like you have there). I use rain water on my plant.

I've seen some really large ones here and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mine stays in a pot and has never grown larger than 3ft/1m tall. The ones at the San Diego Zoo grow to more than 6ft/2m tall (it's all that animal manure. lol! )

I can't imagine them 2 metres tall. Both my babies are still only around 30 cms in height. I'm hoping that all that's needed is for me to find a spot they like.

Yes, they can get pretty tall in a good spot.

Here's an old photo of some tall ones at the San Diego Zoo.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/48453-dichorisandra-thyrsiflora-blue-ginger/member/Delonix1

Checked out the photo and it was amazing to see it that size.

They grow amazingly tall at the San Diego Zoo! I've rarely seen them that tall even in Hawai'i.

I'm convinced all the trees/plants do so very well at the San Diego Zoo because of all the animal manure.

Ha, that would be absolutely right!