Ginger is a lovely type of decorative flowering plant that is often thought to be an edible spicy root. Colors, forms, and sizes of ginger flowers vary. Red, pink, yellow, white, and orange flowers may be seen on some types of ornamental ginger plants. Flowering ginger plants might be confused with shells, cone-shaped clusters of blooms, or tiny lily blooms.
Ginger is most often associated with its hot root. Yellow ginger is a common spice that may enhance the flavor of a dish and has numerous health advantages. Grate ginger root, chop it up, add it to stir-fries, or swallow powdered ginger root pills to make tea. In order to add color to your garden, you should, however, use ornamental ginger plants. The edible parts of some ornamental ginger types may be found. Ginger plants of various sorts, suitable for your garden or cultivation indoors, may even be available.
It’s critical to understand that ginger is a sub-tropical plant before you consider adding decorative ginger to your garden display. As a result, it may not be possible to grow it in all climates. An interesting short guide to growing ornamental ginger flowers can be found in this article as well. Let’s explore the diverse qualities of each kind of ginger root, as well as the various kinds of ginger plants that bloom.
Common Types of Ginger Root (With Pictures and Names)
Ginger is a flowering perennial plant that comes in many varieties. Some have massive, wide tropical-style leaves, while others have stems that are long and slender. A type of flowering plant is even ginger that is grown for its edible roots. Yet, before the plant develops blooms, ginger root is normally harvested. Ginger root is the first of the types of ginger we’re all likely to know.
Yellow Ginger Root
The rhizome (stem-root) of the common ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is yellow ginger root. The Zingiberaceae family includes multiple species of ginger, which is a perennial plant. Ginger root has a fibrous rhizome that clumps together and stems out in several directions. In reality, the Sanskrit term for “horn-root” is what gives ginger its name.
Before consumption, the yellow ginger root is wrapped in a thin brown skin that may be scraped or removed. Common ginger rhizomes are typically 1″ to 6″ (2.5 to 15 cm) long on average. Stems with leaves that may grow to be 3 to 4 feet (around 1 meter) tall are also produced by the ginger plant.
It might be juicy and fleshy, depending on how mature the ginger root is. The drier and stringier the older yellow ginger root is. The pungent aroma and spicy pungent flavor of fresh ginger root are powerful.
Baby Ginger
Baby ginger is a mild-tasting ginger root that is younger than regular ginger root. The rhizomes of this edible ginger variety are less fibrous and have a white color. The flavor differs between baby ginger and mature ginger root. In comparison to yellow ginger, baby ginger is much milder and less pungent.
It’s also the most fresh ginger you can buy. You might even be able to purchase baby ginger with the stalks still intact, since it is so new. This variety is ideal for pickling or adding to stir-fries because of its mild ginger flavor.
Blue Hawaiian Ginger
An edible kind of ginger with a blueish tint through the rhizome, the Blue Hawaiian ginger root is a sort of mealable ginger. The roots of blue ginger resemble those of any other ginger plant while it is still immature. The rhizomes become blue and purple in color as they develop. Blue Hawaiian ginger grows in flavor and pungency as it ages, much like other forms of edible ginger. Hawaiian yellow ginger root and an Indian ginger species are crossed to create this blue ginger variety.
Types of Flowering Ginger (Ornamental Ginger Plants)
Gardeners in tropical and sub-tropical areas prize flowering ginger ornamental plants. Let’s look at how to grow flowering ginger before we look at the many types of ginger plants that bloom.
Growing Ginger Plants that Flower
To produce flowers, ornamental ginger plants need consistent warm temperatures and humid conditions. Ginger must be kept at temperatures of at least 50°F (10°C) for 10 months of the year in order to mature and bloom.
You’ll need several months of temperatures above 70°F (21°C) to allow the ginger rhizomes to develop and produce blossoms beginning around this time. The time it takes for your flowering ginger to bloom is also a factor to consider. It may take up to three years for rhizomes of flowering ginger to bloom after being planted.
You can still grow ginger if you live in colder areas. Large containers should be used to grow varieties of flowering ginger rhizomes. To avoid the rhizomes from becoming dormant, bring them inside when the temperature drops. Let’s explore the various gorgeous and fascinating forms of decorative ginger plants that bloom in more depth.
Beehive Ginger
The ornamental Beehive ginger (Zingiber spectabilis) is a gorgeous example of a ginger plant that blooms. It’s a kind of decorative flowering ginger. The stems of beehive ginger plants grow to a height of around 6 feet (1.8 meters). Large flower-like bracts develop when this ginger blooms.
Bracts are colorful clusters of leaves that resemble flowers and are modified leaves. Ginger plants’ bracts are typically more stunning than the flowers they give off.
Beehive ginger’s cone-shaped bracts might be red or brown in color. Yellow, gold, and pink flowers develop on certain Beehive ginger cultivars. This kind of blooming ginger is known as “pine cone ginger” because of its form. To bloom, this ginger cultivar requires a lot of sunlight.
Direct sunlight, on the other hand, can scorch the leaves and harm the plant’s health. Because of its color and form, this ginger blossom is a excellent cut blossom.
Red Ginger
Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata) is a tropical ginger plant that thrives in warm weather and produces stunning scarlet or pink cone-like bracts. The Red ginger plant has stems that reach a height of about 6 feet (1.8 meters). Compared to other ginger plant types, its leaves are long and broad. Red ginger blooms have red or pink plumes in the form of a cone, which makes for a spectacular show. Small white ginger blooms bloom atop the colorful bracts.
Red ginger is found in the Caribbean, Florida, and Pacific Ocean islands, among other places. Partial sun and moist, humid conditions are ideal for growing ginger. This ginger species may be cultivated indoors or in greenhouses for its blooms. Flower arrangements made with large showy flowers are stunning.
A pink cultivar of Alpinia purpurata
Indian Head Ginger
The ornamental ginger plant Costus spicatus comes from the Costaceae family and has a huge ginger blossom. A kind of flowering ginger with crimson blooming flowers is shown here. This crimson blossom ginger plant may reach a height of 7 feet (2.1 meters). It has 12″ (30 cm) long and 4″ (10 cm) broad leaves that are fairly large.
Large cone-shaped bracts appear from the stem while it is flowering, and they are generally a fiery reddish-orange color. Indian Head ginger isn’t frost-tolerant, as are most flowering ginger types. This species requires a warm and humid environment with full sun to bloom.
Torch Ginger
The flowering Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is native to Southeast Asia and is noted for its gorgeous flowers with huge red or pink petals. The flower of this ginger plant is known as the “Ginger flower,” “Torch lily,” “Wild ginger,” or “Porcelain rose.” It has a tight cluster of pink to red petals that form an egg shape in the middle. The result was a star-shaped arrangement of long lovely petals.
This blooming kind prefers full to partial shade to grow, unlike several other sorts of ornamental ginger. This is a true tropical type of ginger because warm, humid conditions are required. Although the most prevalent flower color on this ginger plant is pink, red and white flowers are also common. In Asian cuisine, many parts of this ginger plant are used. Flower buds are sometimes added to chili sauce, cooked fish, or a Thai salad by certain individuals.
White Ginger Lily
The White Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium) is an attractive white flower that smells like jasmine and belongs to the ornamental ginger family. For its ornamental value, White Ginger Lily is cultivated in Hawaii, and for its medicinal uses, it is cultivated in China.
The evergreen blooming plant thrives in humid climates such as rain forests and streams. In some countries, the rhizomes spread quickly and are considered invasive. The flowers, on the other hand, make this white ginger variety so attractive.
On the tops of long stems, delicate white blooms bloom. They smell nice and have a butterfly shape. The long extended dark-green oval leaves are another aspect of the White Ginger Lily. These leaves may be up to a foot long and 4 inches (10 cm) broad.
Globba Ginger
The Blossom Blossoms Ginger Plant, also known as the Globba winitii, is a popular type of Globba cultivar. Some of the most intriguing ginger varieties include flowers from the Globba family. The clusters of tiny flowers that hang from the bracts are known as Globba ginger flower clusters. The shape of a hook is seen in these blooms of various colors. The flowery bracts, which hang down from the short stems, may be lovely sights. From purple to white, the showy bracts range in color.
The Dancing Lady Ginger (Globba winitii) is one of the most popular Globba cultivars. Mauve bracts with long stems and tiny tubular yellow flowers adorn this exotic tropical ginger plant. This ginger plant’s flowering period can last a month or more. Globba ginger blooms, which may last up to 14 days after being cut, are also suitable for floral designs.
Shell Ginger
The Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) is a tropical ginger that blooms all year. The ‘pink porcelain lily,’ ‘butterfly ginger,’ or ‘variegated ginger’ are all names for this kind of ginger plant. It’s a tall, clumping flowering plant that might grow up to 10 feet (3 meters). When this ginger plant blooms, it produces little funnel-shaped flowers that look like a shell before they open. When they open, the flower shells are usually white to light pink in color with yellow petals.
If you want to create vibrant, delicate blooms and lush greenery in a room, you may also grow Shell ginger plants indoors. This ginger plant will reach a height of 3 to 4 feet (1.2 to 1.2 meters) inside containers. This plant needs a lot of sun and partial shade, as do many ornamental ginger plants. For the plant to thrive and flower, the conditions must be warm and humid.
Pineapple Ginger
The Pineapple Ginger (Tapeinochilos ananassae) is a tropical reed-like flowering plant with a vivid ginger blossom. When it blooms, this flower-producing ginger plant produces a huge colorful pineapple-shaped bract at the end of its short stems. The Pineapple Ginger may grow up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall when it is grown in full sun. This ginger variety’s tropical blooms (bracts) might grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long.
The plant has dark green leaves that wrap around the stems, despite its resemblance to a reed. Other bract types, such as Red ginger and Beehive ginger, are similar to this blooming ginger type. The scarlet, waxy bracts appear to be more exotic with their beautiful white or yellow blooms.
Malay Ginger (Crepe Ginger)
The Malay Ginger (Costus speciosus) is a lovely kind of decorative ginger plant. The Malay ginger is known as the “Crepe ginger” because of its thin wavy flowers. In Hawaii, this ginger species thrives and blooms well. This ginger plant has stems that may grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
Reddish-purple bracts develop on the plant during blooming and create a conical structure. Further bracts in this group develop tiny white blooms with a yellow center that are stunning.
Alpinia Ginger Flowering Plants (With Pictures and Names)
The Alpinia genus includes cultivars like Alpinia hainanensis ‘Shengzhen,’ which is the most common kind of flowering ginger plant. Some of the flowering plants may grow to be over 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. Bracts with tiny flowers are common on these ornamental types. They form a cone or spike shape. These are aromatic plants that are rich in essential oils and belong to the ginger Zingiberaceae family.
Australian native ginger, Lesser galangal, Dwarf cardamom, and Blue ginger are among the species found in this genus.
- Australian native ginger Bobble-like blue capsules with white pulp contain Alpinia caerulea (alpine pilgrim). Instead of using ginger root, the leaves of this ginger plant are occasionally used in cooking.
- Lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum) is a fragrant and spicy edible rhizome with red and white flowers.
- Blue ginger (Alpinia galanga) is a red-flowered reed-like ginger plant. Cooking utilizes all aspects of this kind of ginger, including the root.
- Dwarf cardamom (Alpinia nutans) is a bushy flowering ginger plant with long narrow leaves that grows in the Alpinia genus. At the end of foot-long (30 cm) stalks, this ginger produces blooms that resemble porcelain shells.