Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
World/Pandemic, Europe
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
-
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
2020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lake margins, Open areas, Stream side, Wet ground
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-88-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 3
12-5
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 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
Mat-forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink, White
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Brown
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Reduce watering in winter, 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
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
Prune to stimulate growth
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
-
-
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bugs
Butterflies
Allergy
-
Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Biodiesel
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Mixed Border
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
PHALARIS arundinacea var. picta
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Canary Reedgrass, Ribbon Grass
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Ribbon Grass
Shell Ginger
In German
rohrglanzgras
Shell Ginger
In French
roseau
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
hierba cinta and pasto cinto
Shell jengibre
In Greek
κορδέλα Grass
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
caniço-malhado
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Wstążka Trawa
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Ribbon Grass
Crusta Ginger
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Cyperales
Zingiberales
Family
Poaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Phalaris
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Alpinieae
Subfamily
-
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
200150
1
27800
👆🏻