Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tender Perennial
Origin
South America
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Desert, Semi desert
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-12
8-15
Sunset Zone
13,21,22,23,24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Multi-Color
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
-
Lance shaped
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Sand, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Sandy
Average
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Offsets
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Dry
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Root rot
-
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Ants, Mealybugs
Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
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
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
GYMNOCALYCIUM
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Chin Cactus
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In German
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In French
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Gymnocalycium
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Gymnocalycium
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Gymnocalycium
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Gymnocalycium
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Zingiberales
Family
Cactaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Gymnocalycium
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Alpinioideae
Season and Care of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger
Season and care of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger is important to know. While considering everything about Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger Care, growing season is an essential factor. Gymnocalycium season is All year and Shell Ginger season is All year. The type of soil for Gymnocalycium is Sand, Sandy and for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Gymnocalycium is Neutral and for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral.
Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger Physical Information
Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger physical information is very important for comparison. Gymnocalycium height is 12.50 cm and width 8.00 cm whereas Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger are as follows:
Gymnocalycium flower color: creamy white, Light Pink and Pink
Gymnocalycium leaf color: Green
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
- Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger
Care of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Gymnocalycium pruning is done 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 Gymnocalycium 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.