Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southwestern United States, California
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
-
Habitat
Tropical regions
Dry areas, meadows
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Crimson
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oblong
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Do Not over Water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
-
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Burns, Snakebite, Stomach aliments
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Whole plant
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
PENSTEMON eatonii
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Firecracker Penstemon
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Firecracker penstemon
In German
Shell Ginger
Kracher penstemon
In French
Shell Ginger
Firecracker penstemon
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Penstemon del petardo
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
πυροτέχνημα penstemon
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Penstemon do foguete
In Polish
Shell Imbir
petarda penstemon
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Firecracker Persicaria
Order
Zingiberales
Lamiales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Season and Care of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon
Season and care of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon is important to know. While considering everything about Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon Care, growing season is an essential factor. Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Firecracker Penstemon season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand and for Firecracker Penstemon is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral and for Firecracker Penstemon is Neutral, Alkaline.
Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon Physical Information
Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon physical information is very important for comparison. Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Firecracker Penstemon height is 61.00 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon are as follows:
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Firecracker Penstemon flower color: Crimson
- Firecracker Penstemon leaf color: Green
Care of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon
Care of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon 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 Firecracker Penstemon pruning is done No pruning needed in the early stages, 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 Firecracker Penstemon needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.