Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tender Perennial
Origin
South America
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Desert, Semi desert
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-12
8-15
Sunset Zone
13,21,22,23,24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Multi-Color
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
-
Lance shaped
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Sand, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Sandy
Average
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Offsets
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Dry
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial 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
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Root rot
-
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Ants, Mealybugs
Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
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
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
GYMNOCALYCIUM
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Chin Cactus
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In German
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In French
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Gymnocalycium
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Gymnocalycium
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Gymnocalycium
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Gymnocalycium
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Gymnocalycium
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Zingiberales
Family
Cactaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Gymnocalycium
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Alpinioideae
Importance of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Gymnocalycium 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 Gymnocalycium is whereas of Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive. Gymnocalycium has beauty benefits as follows: while Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Gymnocalycium 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 Gymnocalycium 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 Gymnocalycium are whereas of Shell Ginger have Rash respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Gymnocalycium has showy fruits and Shell Ginger has no showy fruits. Also Gymnocalycium is not flowering and Shell Ginger is not flowering . You can compare Gymnocalycium and Shell Ginger facts and facts of other plants too.