Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Fruit
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southeastern Asia
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Not Available
Habitat
Tropical regions
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
10-14
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Pink, Rose, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
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
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oblovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in 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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Rash
Kidney Stone
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
AVERRHOA carambola
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Carambola, Starfruit
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
carambola पेड़
In German
Shell Ginger
Sternfrucht Baum
In French
Shell Ginger
arbre carambole
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
árbol de carambola
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
carambola δέντρο
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
árvore de carambola
In Polish
Shell Imbir
karambola drzewo
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
carambola ligno
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Oxalidales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Oxalidaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Alpinieae
Not Available
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Shell Ginger and Carambola
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Carambola. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Carambola 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 Carambola is Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure and Nutrients. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Carambola has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Carambola
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 Carambola 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 Carambola have Kidney Stone respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Carambola has showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Carambola is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Carambola facts and facts of other plants too.