Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Perennial
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
8-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
Rash
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
African Iris
Shell Ginger
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Shell Ginger
In French
African Iris
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Iris africano
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Shell Imbir
In Latin
African Iris
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Asparagales
Zingiberales
Family
Iridaceae
Zingiberaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Alpinioideae
Season and Care of African Iris and Shell Ginger
Season and care of African Iris and Shell Ginger is important to know. While considering everything about African Iris and Shell Ginger Care, growing season is an essential factor. African Iris season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for African Iris is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for African Iris is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral.
African Iris and Shell Ginger Physical Information
African Iris and Shell Ginger physical information is very important for comparison. African Iris height is 61.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of African Iris and Shell Ginger are as follows:
African Iris flower color: Yellow, Light Yellow and Brown
African Iris leaf color: Green and Gray Green
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
- Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Care of African Iris and Shell Ginger
Care of African Iris and Shell Ginger include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. African Iris pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Shell Ginger pruning is done Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer African Iris needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.