GINGER & HELICONIA PLANTS

Grains of Paradise, African Cardamom. Seeds of this rare Ginger are similar in flavor to cardamom and used as a pungent spice. This Ginger has many bioactives, great for digestive and intestinal health. The plant has many other medicinal values: anti-diabetic and anti-obese mechanisms, aphrodisiac and testosterone boosting properties. Aframomum melegueta may be promising for a spice to add to a diet in hopes of body recomposition. Studies show this spice increases sexual behavior.

Variegated ginger - this species is valued for its variegated foliage, and beautiful flowers.

One of the most desirable symbols of Tropics, Alpinia purpurata, red ginger, also called ostrich plume and pink cone ginger, are native Malaysian plants with showy flowers on long brightly colored red bracts. They look like the bloom, but the true flower is the small white flower on top. Red Ginger grows in Hawaii, and many Central American nations, including Belize. It is also found in Samoa, where it is the national flower, and is locally called "teuila." It prefers partial shade and moist humid conditions, although it can tolerate full sun in some climates. It tends to like to be well watered and not left to dry out. Ginger can also be grown as a houseplant and its cut flowers can be used in arrangements.
See Article about this plant.

Chinese ginger, Fingerroot. Boesenbergia rotunda is a medicinal and culinary herb from China and Southeast Asia. It is widely used in Javanese cuisine in Indonesia. In Thai cooking it is called krachai. In the west it is usually found pickled or frozen. Kra Chai is used as an antiflatulent, expels air and nurtures strength. Used as a male tonic, vigor, health promotion, longevity, aphrodisiac.

Variegated Spiral Ginger. Originally from South America, this ginger is very popular in Hawaii and Florida. The actual name is C. arabicus variegata and it is labeled Costus amazonicus variegata almost everywhere. Spiraling stems rise with a strong white variegation and topped with elegant pure white flowers with yellow centers. Takes both sun and shade, moist soil and lots of water.
This is a spectacular addition to your shade garden!

Costus igneus, Chamaecostus cuspidatus - Insulin Plant, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag.
It is known as the insulin plant because it may help lower glucose levels for some people with diabetes. Researchers believe it can help lower blood sugar level. The plant has large, fleshy, smooth turmeric-like spiral leaves that are dark green on top with light purple undersides. The undersides of these large, smooth, dark green leaves have light purple shade. The leaves are spirally arranged around the stem, forming attractive, arching clumps arising from underground rootstocks. The maximum height of these plants is about two feet. The flowers are orange in color, appear to be cone-like heads at the tips of branches. Flowering occurs during the warm months.
10 benefits of insulin plant:
- Helps to reduce high blood glucose level
- Improves digestion
- Reduces cholesterol level
- Increases energy level
- Promotes weight loss
- Good for skin health
- Prevents heart diseases
- Relieves stress.

Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron, Tumeric. Turmeric powder might well be the healthiest spice on Earth. Made by grinding the dried root of the Curcuma longa plant, this ancient superfood and key ingredient in curry powder has been used by Indian Ayurvedic healers for centuries. In recent years, also the scientific community has begun to show interest in the potential health benefits of the turmeric root. Turmeric can be consumed in its original powdered form through culinary additions to other foods.
This plant is deciduous through winter-spring.

Weeping Blue Ginger, Blue Pendant. Unusual zinger-looking perennial with dark green foliage with arching stems. Heads of dark electric-blue flowers top tall, jointed stems with glossy heavy leaves faintly banded silver and toned purplish-blue beneath. Rare color for tropics!

Unusual color for tropics - Deep Sapphire! Blue Ginger is a wonderful, tropical-looking plant which resembles ginger in growth and habit. It is a great addition for a shade garden, can be grown as a container and indoor plant. In warm environment, the plant is evergreen and doesn't go dormant.

Red Torch Ginger. Its leafstalks are tall, growing from underground rhizomes. The torches itself, about 3 ft, also emerge from the ground on a long stalk. The flowerheads are eaten raw in Malaysia, before the bracts begin to open. The Torch ginger likes full sun or light shade and rich, well drained soil, with plenty of water and protection from strong winds.

White Ginger, Butterfly Ginger Lily. This is the most fragrant of all gingers and one of the symbols of Hawaiian Paradise. In the summer it bears fragrant flowers that resemble butterflies. It is popular in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands were it is used in leis or singly worn in the hair or behind the ear. It also makes a good cut flower great for scenting the home. It is a tough plant, a light freeze may kill the tops, but it will come back in the Spring.

With its attractive long green leaves with a slight fuzziness, this ginger has open long spikes of pastel yellow flowers with a beautiful heady aroma. Similar in appearance to the White Butterfly ginger (H. coronarium). Exquisitely fragrant!

Lady Di heliconia - the living tribute to Princess Diana. It's a vigorous plant and prolific warm-season bloomer. Grows 3-4 feet tall. grows in partial shade to full sun. Inflorescence has 5 to 8 dark red bracts. Good heliconia for pot culture. This is a very hardy plant, needing little attention once established.

Super rare ginger! The edible flowers have pleasant, spicy fragrance and flavor. This rare specimen plant is from the collection of Mark Hooten. It has bright coral-like flowers, and finally bloomed for us in January 2025. We will be posting more pictures soon.
Species close related to Burbidgea. Riedelia coralina is so rare that published information about this species and photos are extremely hard to find. Most references to it appear in specialized collector circles rather than in widely available horticultural or botanical literature.

Cardamom is a principal ingredient in curry powders, and is used to flavor confectioneries, liqueurs and chewing gums. This South Indian perennial is popularly grown for use in Indian and Asian Cuisine. The seeds are dried (and often crushed) for adding unique flavor to meals and curries. This plant is cold sensitive, requires moist soil and will grow best in a shady warm location. Cardamom makes an attractive addition to the subZingiber tropical landscape.

Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger - Plant this ginger in the garden to produce your own fresh ginger. This plant is deciduous, leaves die back in winter and grow back in spring.

Heat Pack (Shipping Warmer) maintains warm temperature while plants are in transit for up to 72-96 hours (depending on outside temperature). Heat Pack is a must if temperature drops below 40F in your area. Large orders require 2-3 packs. When ordering large 3-7 gal size plants (especially sensitive ultra-tropical plants), you may need 1 pack per plant. Contact us for more information and advise on particular species.
Without heat pack, your order shipping may be postponed until weather permitting.

Rare variety with pure white flowers. One of the most desirable symbols of Tropics, Alpinia purpurata, also called ostrich plume and pink cone ginger, are native Malaysian plants with showy flowers on long brightly colored pink bracts. They look like the bloom, but the true flower is the small white flower on top.

A dwarf ginger that is hard to find, but well worth it. Intermittently throughout the year, bright golden-orange cones will appear above the glossy dark green, maroon stems. Individual flowers will open and last for a period of about two weeks during each bloom cycle. Has a very upright growth habit. An excellent indoor plant, it should be kept out of direct sunlight as this will scorch the leaves, and should be kept in a container even outdoors, as they are very cold-tender and must be brought inside in the fall. When repotting, take care that only the roots are burried in the soil or potting medium, as it is a bit of an epiphyte (air plant) and the rhyzome must remain above ground level.

Costus fissiligulatus is an amazing new Costus from Gabon in West Africa. It has a dazzling pink trumpet flower with a yellow throat. It is very floriferous with an inflorescence of numerous flower buds on a shortish plant of 3-4 ft that stands very erect. It is an easy grower with similar growing requirements to other gingers.

Red Button Ginger, French Kiss. Spectacular red ginger, with bright red button-like flower cones almost year-round. The yellow flowers that emerge from the red cones are edible. The plant can withstand a light frost for short periods of time but will stop blooming.

The name refers to the colorful raspberry colored stem, but that's not the only colorful thing about this Spiraling Ginger. The leaves are dark green, long and glossy with velvety deep purple undersides. The inflorescence is a vivid red with tight bracts and bold yellow flowers. The butterflies love to drink the nectar from the flowers. This is a large vigorous ginger, growing up to 5-6 ft tall.

Red Siam Tulip, rare hybrid. This plant produces an excellent cut flower last up to about 14 days. If placed in a slightly shaded position, flower on the plant can remain for up to 3 months.

A new hybrid from Thailand with Golden-and-Orange inflorescence.
This plant produces an excellent cut flower last up to about 14 days. If placed in a slightly shaded position, flower on the plant can remain for up to 3 months.

Pink Torch Ginger. Its leafstalks are tall, growing from underground rhizomes. The torches itself, about 3 ft, also emerge from the ground on a long stalk. The flowerheads are eaten raw in Malaysia, before the bracts begin to open. The Torch ginger likes full sun or light shade and rich, well drained soil, with plenty of water and protection from strong winds.