Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Conservatory Greenhouse

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
  • RHS AGM

blue ginger

An erect perennial with short, rhizomatous roots and spirally arranged, lance-shaped lustrous dark green leaves, 20-30cm long. Deep violet flowers 1-2cm across are produced in dense racemes, 13-20cm long, in autumn

Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0–0.1 metre
Growing conditions
Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Purple
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1B
Botanical details
Family
Commelinaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Suckering
Genus

Dichorisandra are upright evergreen perennials with leaves spirally aranged or in two ranks, and 3-petalled, blue or white flowers in racemes, followed by capsules splitting to reveal dark orange seeds

Name status

Correct

Plant range
E Brazil

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in loam-based potting compost (JI No3) in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely in the growing season and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; keep just moist in winter

Propagation

Divide or root stem cuttings at any time

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Sub-tropical
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Mealybugs may be troublesome

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.