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Herbaceous PerennialConservatory Greenhouse

Zingiber spectabile

beehive ginger

a rhizomatous perennial with erect, unbranched stems up to 2.5m tall arising from the fleshy rhizomes bearing narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Small, purple and white flowers with yellow spots are borne on stems up to 50cm tall and emerge from pale yellow-orange bracts that overlap to form a cylindrical, beehive-like structure; the bracts may darken with age to orange and red

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1A

Botanical details

Family: Zingiberaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Zingiber are aromatic rhizomatous perennials with alternate, oblong leaves in two ranks, and cone-like inflorescences with overlapping, sometimes brightly coloured bracts, and 3-petalled flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Malaysia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil in filtered sunlight and high humidity, either directly in the border of a heated greenhouse, or in a container indoors

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division of well-established plants in early spring, or by separating and replanting sections of rhizome 15-20cm long in spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Patio and container plants
Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut back old stems as they die back in the autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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