Costus Bloom (Large Plant)

great photo

Gardegen:

I see the ants are starting to attact. : > )

Do you know the species epithet?

Thanks Irish, Delonix, do these normally attract ants? This is the first year I have grown them, so I don't know much about them. What is the epithet?

Gardengem:

Yes, they do...the flowers within the bracts produce a sweet nectar like honey, which attracts every ant within miles. lol.

You're so lucky you don't get the brown-tipping of the leaves. Here in San Diego the hard water produces a lot of brown-tipping on the leaves of almost all species of Costus.

The epithet is the species name.