Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Grass
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Middle Africa
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Perennial Grass
Habitat
Tropical regions
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
7-11
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Purple
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Purple
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Long Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
-
Insects, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Flying insects
Allergy
Rash
Asthma, breathing problems
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Food for animals, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Elephant Grass
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
हाथी घास
In German
Shell Ginger
Elefantengras
In French
Shell Ginger
l'herbe à éléphant
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
pasto elefante
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
ελέφαντα χόρτο
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
capim-elefante
In Polish
Shell Imbir
trawa słoniowa
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
elephanti herba
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Poales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Poaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Panicoideae
Season and Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass
Season and care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass is important to know. While considering everything about Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass Care, growing season is an essential factor. Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Elephant Grass season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand and for Elephant Grass is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral and for Elephant Grass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass Physical Information
Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass physical information is very important for comparison. Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Elephant Grass height is 120.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass are as follows:
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Elephant Grass flower color: Sandy Brown
- Elephant Grass leaf color: Purple
Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass
Care of Shell Ginger and Elephant Grass 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 Grass pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Elephant Grass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.