Alpinia zerumbet - Shell Ginger

Very pretty, almost look manmade .....from porcelain

It's other common name is pink porcelain lily.

Really? For a good reason.

Yes. It has a lot of common names. The most common name (here in California) is shell ginger.

its so pretty..........

It is gorgeous!

Milky, thanks! :>)

Alexandramou:

Thanks! Doesn't this plant grow there in Greece?

Not sure.

It's a very common ginger which grows in most of California. I used to have lots of this ginger lining a very tall, long fence when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I had tons of Hedychium greenii (red ginger) I got free from a friend. It has such a wonderful sweet fragrance. I haven't had any since I moved to San Diego, which has been almost 13 years.

Possibly my favourite member of the ginger family.

My other choice is hardy here in the UK - Roscoea................

http://bit.ly/REmJPb

Your Roscoea is very attractive!

Yes, Alpinia species are pretty spectacular. Most are very large though...and don't do well in pots. We grow many species. My favorite is red ginger (Alpinia purpurata)...it's a very difficult plant to grow here (super tropical).

This is the one that is at Oxfords botanic gardens.

The Roscoea in your above link is located at Oxfrod Botanic Gardens?

No, this Alpinia..................

So, Alpinia zerubet is the one growing at Oxford Botanic Gardens?

I've never found the tag for it as it's buried behind lots of plants.

Tell me what you think...............

http://bit.ly/R3nNcE

Yes, the pic posted on the link above is A. zerumbet. It's definitely not Ruizia Cordata.

You're a gent Sir!

I try. :>)

I'm guessing your posted A. zerubet at Oxford Botanic Gardens is growing indoors? I know it takes close to two years before the stems bloom.

It is.

This is exquisite! might have to visit that oxford botanic gardens

Oxford Botanic Gardens sounds like a wonderful place to visit!

We're lucky here in San Diego and most of California because this plant grows outside very well. I really like the variegated form. Have you seen this one?

Here's a pics:

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/46720-alpinia-zerumbet-variegata-variegated-shell-ginger

It is!

I do sooo dislike variegated Delonix - always look ill to me.
That said, two of my favourite plants in my garden are variegated. The blooms are so good that I forgive them the foliage!

May is the time Sticki....................

http://bit.ly/ZqXJMt

How did i guess that would be the picture you would show me!?

i go up north in May, for my holiday, but if i have another free day that month i will try to visit.

Meanie:

I'm just the opposite, I absolutely love variegated plants! They do have to be positioned very well in the garden, though. If not, they can look sickly.

Meanie:

You must get a Strongylodon macrobotrys (Jade Vine)! I know it would be quite a challenge to grow in your climate. Most likely you would need a heated greenhouse or hot, sunny window with humidity.

The Jade Vine is quite a challenge to grow in Southern California; however, people do grow them. They are not very common at all, though.

Here's some cultural information:

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/jade_vine.htm

Trade Winds Fruits is located in San Diego, CA.

I know where to buy them here in the UK - costs £45. Needs more than I can offer it I'm afraid.
When I win the lottery though..............

Meanie, you never know until you try it. I know it would be a challenge; however, you seem to have quite a green thumb.

The price is pretty hefty, I'm sure they're just as expensive here, also. The only place that I know here in San Diego County which sell these vines would be Kartuz Greenhouses.

I do want to try Strongylodon macrobotrys and Mucuna benettii (one day)...supposedly Macuna benetii is slightly hardier. It would be nice to see these vines grow together, actually it would be so awesome!!!

I've looked at Mucuna seed in the past as it would be a better bet.
However, just before this house come on the market I had decided to try a Strongylodon in the conservatory (I really miss my conservatory).

I've just ordered some Alpinia zerumbet seeds!

You've grown Strongylodon macrobotrys in the past?

I bet you would miss your conservatory. I remember your plants posted in the past looked terrific in there! I wish I had a conservatory!

Good luck with the Alpinia zerumbet seeds! We never rarely, if ever grow them from seed. Typically, we grow them from the rhizomes. I had so many when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. I got just a few rhizomes from my father, who had many giant ones growing in his yard.

"You've grown Strongylodon macrobotrys in the past?"

No - I had decided to try it and t'other half was buying it for my birthday. But this place came on the market and out went that plan.

Alpinia zerumbet is supposedly fairly hardy?

"Alpinia zerumbet is supposedly fairly hardy?"

No, it's not hardy. Also, the stems take about a year and a half before they're at blooming age.

Well, maybe when you get another conservatory built you may be able to try a Jade vine. I think it would be worth the try.

Thanks!

That is why I'm ordering seeds! Sellers make all kinds of wild claims - at least with seed I should be able to risk a couple in a year or two and the financial cost will be low.

Even if they do survive outdoors it sounds unlikely that they would bloom. So pot growing sound favourite (won't stop me trying in the ground) - are they greedy like Heliconia?

Unfortunately, shell ginger will never bloom for you outdoors in the ground. I've seen the tops freeze to the ground even in the San Francisco Bay Area at 30ºF (-1ºC) (Although my plants never froze to the ground). Not sure exactly how hardy the rhizomes are, either. They can certainly take below freezing, but not sure how many degrees below freezing. In a pot the plants stay small, usually not growing taller than 3 or 4 ft. I've never seen one bloom in a pot, either.

Shell Gingers like fertilizer but are not very heavy feeders, like Heliconia species. They just love a lot of water!

All the makings of a true challenge then!!! Watch this space!

Overall it's a very easy plant to grow. It's just not hardy and not easy to bloom in a pot.

"It's just not hardy and not easy to bloom in a pot."

As I say, a challenge then!

Meanie, I'm sure it'll grow very well for you.

That as it may, but will I get it to bloom?? The green house is rather full in the summer!

I've never seen one bloom in a pot; however, most people here don't grow them in a pot, only in the ground.

Here's some people's experience growing this plant. I don't think it would bloom well outside zone 10a.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55244/#b

Thanks for the link!

Found this post there......................

"On Jan 11, 2006, clogg from Norwich
United Kingdom wrote:
Best to keep it in a pot and overwinter it in a frost area like a greenhouse. It will then bloom the following year on the old wood."

There is hope!

Yes, this is why it's not a good one to grow in the ground there. On average it takes a year and half to bloom...so it will bloom on the second summer. NOTE: This is information based on my experience that I've gotten from Alpinia zerumbet rhizomes, seeds may take longer to bloom.

Heliconia grows the same way. My Heliconia stems which popped up last spring, summer will bloom this spring and summer (in the ground). I have horrible luck with Heliconia species in pots. My Heliconia 'Red Christmas' and 'Yellow Christmas' (which my friend gave me, and I can't find anymore for sale) died during the seven year drought (they were in pots).