Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Herbaceous perennial
Habitat
Tropical regions
Lakes, Pastures, Prairies, Roadsides, Swamps, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
3-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Red, Crimson, Dark Red
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Lanceolate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Medium
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly 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
-
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
Butterflies, Insects
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Headache, Rheumatism, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Medicinal oil, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Bog Garden, Mixed Border, Water Gardens, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
LOBELIA cardinalis
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Cardinal Flower
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Cardinal Flower
In German
Shell Ginger
Cardinal Flower
In French
Shell Ginger
Cardinal Flower
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Cardinal Flower
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Καρδινάλιος λουλούδι
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Cardinal Flower
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Cardinal Flower
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Cardinalis Flower
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Asterales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Lobeliaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Lobelioideae
Importance of Shell Ginger and Cardinal Flower
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Cardinal Flower. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Cardinal Flower 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 Cardinal Flower is Headache, Rheumatism and Stomach pain. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Cardinal Flower has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Cardinal Flower
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 Cardinal Flower 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 Cardinal Flower have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Cardinal Flower has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Cardinal Flower is flowering. You can compare Shell Ginger and Cardinal Flower facts and facts of other plants too.