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About Shell Ginger and Inkberry


About Inkberry and Shell Ginger


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Tender Perennial  
Broadleaf Evergreen  

Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia  
North America, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States  

Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty  
Ilex glabra, Ilex crenata, Ilex verticillata  

Number of Varieties
20  
99+
3  

Habitat
Tropical regions  
Coastal Regions, Lowland, Mountains, Subtropical climates, Suburban areas  

USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15  
5-9  

AHS Heat Zone
12-5  
9-1  

Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Clump-Forming  
Oval or Rounded  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
180.00 cm  
99+
120.00 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
120.00 cm  
99+
180.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink  
White  

Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color  
-  

Fruit Color
-  
Black  

Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green  
Green, Dark Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Lance shaped  
Ovate  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
Fast  
Medium  

Type of Soil
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Average  

Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer  
Late Spring, Early Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
Drought  
-  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Ground  

How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers  
Seedlings, Stem Planting  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Moderate  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Type
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Average  
Average  

Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

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 if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Shape and thin as needed  

Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer  

Pests and Diseases
-  
Aphids  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Insignificant  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
No  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
Yes  
Yes  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
Yes  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Coarse  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Glossy  
-  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
No  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
Yes  

Attracts
Butterflies  
Birds  

Allergy
Rash  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
Good for skin  
-  

Edible Uses
Yes  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive  
-  

Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes  
Fruits, Leaves  

Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes  
Can be made into a herbal tea  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical  
Mixed Border, Wildflower  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet  
ILEX glabra  

Common Name
Shell Ginger  
American Pokeweed, Inkberry, Silberstein American Pokeweed  

In Hindi
Shell Ginger  
Inkberry  

In German
Shell Ginger  
Inkberry  

In French
Shell Ginger  
Inkberry  

In Spanish
Shell jengibre  
Inkberry  

In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ  
Inkberry  

In Portuguese
Shell Ginger  
Inkberry  

In Polish
Shell Imbir  
inkberry  

In Latin
Crusta Ginger  
Inkberry  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
-  

Class
Lilopsida  
-  

Order
Zingiberales  
Aquifoliales  

Family
Zingiberaceae  
Phytolaccaceae  

Genus
Alpinia  
Ilex  

Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots  

Tribe
Alpinieae  
-  

Subfamily
Alpinioideae  
-  

Number of Species
150  
99+
600  
40

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Shell Ginger and Inkberry

Wondering what are the properties of Shell Ginger and Inkberry? We provide you with everything About Shell Ginger and Inkberry. Shell Ginger doesn't have thorns and Inkberry doesn't have thorns. Also Shell Ginger does not have fragrant flowers. Shell Ginger has allergic reactions like Rash and Inkberry has allergic reactions like Rash. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Shell Ginger and Inkberry and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of Shell Ginger and Inkberry

Season and care of Shell Ginger and Inkberry is important to know. While considering everything about Shell Ginger and Inkberry Care, growing season is an essential factor. Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Inkberry season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand and for Inkberry is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral and for Inkberry is Acidic, Neutral.

Shell Ginger and Inkberry Physical Information

Shell Ginger and Inkberry physical information is very important for comparison. Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Inkberry height is 120.00 cm and width 180.00 cm. The color specification of Shell Ginger and Inkberry are as follows:

Care of Shell Ginger and Inkberry

Care of Shell Ginger and Inkberry 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 Inkberry pruning is done No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Shape and thin as needed. In summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Inkberry needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.

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