Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Not Available
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Grassland
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
8-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Round
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Not Available
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Not Available
Butterflies, Not Available
Allergy
Not Available
Rash
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Alternanthera
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Gudrisag, Garundi
Shell Ginger
In German
Alternanthera
Shell Ginger
In French
Alternanthera
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Alternanthera
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Alternanthera
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Alternanthera
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Alternanthera
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Alternanthera
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Zingiberales
Family
Amaranthaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Alternanthera
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Not Available
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Gomphrenoideae
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Alternanthera and Shell Ginger
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Alternanthera and Shell Ginger. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Alternanthera and Shell Ginger as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Alternanthera is Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and Antioxidants whereas of Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive. Alternanthera has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Alternanthera vs Shell Ginger
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Alternanthera vs Shell Ginger and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Alternanthera are Not Available whereas of Shell Ginger have Rash respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Alternanthera has no showy fruits and Shell Ginger has no showy fruits. Also Alternanthera is not flowering and Shell Ginger is not flowering . You can compare Alternanthera and Shell Ginger facts and facts of other plants too.
