Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Not Available
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Tropical regions
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Round
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Not Available
Allergy
Rash
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
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
Showy Purposes, 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
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Alternanthera
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Gudrisag, Garundi
In German
Shell Ginger
Alternanthera
In French
Shell Ginger
Alternanthera
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Alternanthera
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Alternanthera
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Alternanthera
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Alternanthera
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Alternanthera
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Caryophyllales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Not Available
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Gomphrenoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Shell Ginger and Alternanthera
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Alternanthera. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Alternanthera 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 Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive whereas of Alternanthera is Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and Antioxidants. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Alternanthera has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Alternanthera
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 Shell Ginger vs Alternanthera 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 Shell Ginger are Rash whereas of Alternanthera have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Alternanthera has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Alternanthera is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Alternanthera facts and facts of other plants too.
