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