Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southeastern Asia
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Taro Alocasia reginula, Night scented lily
Habitat
Tropical regions
Terrestrial, Wet lands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Full Sun, Humidity
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Divison, From bulbs, From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
Blight, Mites, Red spider mite
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Humidity
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Spider Mites
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
No Beauty Benefits
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
No Medicinal Use
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Not Available
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
ALOCASIA reginula
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear
In German
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear
In French
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Elephant Ear
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Elephant Ear
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Elephant Ear
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Elephant Ear
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Alismatales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Araceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear
Season and care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear is important to know. While considering everything about Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear Care, growing season is an essential factor. Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Elephant Ear season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand and for Elephant Ear is Loam while the PH of soil for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral and for Elephant Ear is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear Physical Information
Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear physical information is very important for comparison. Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Elephant Ear height is 20.30 cm and width 30.50 cm. The color specification of Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear are as follows:
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Elephant Ear flower color: White
- Elephant Ear leaf color: Purple, Dark Green, Silver and Black
Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear
Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Ear include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. 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 and Elephant Ear pruning is done Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove deadheads. In summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Elephant Ear needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Less Watering.