Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs, Shrubs
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Australia, South America
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Adams Elderberry, Black Beauty Elderberry, Black Lace Elderberry, Johns Elderberry, Nova Elderberry
Habitat
Tropical regions
Farms, Homesteads, Near organic waste disposal
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
4-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
-
Fruit Color
-
Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Compound
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Spring
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Part sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Part sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Cut or pinch the stems, No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in winter, Prune ocassionally, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Canker, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Stem spot, Tomato Ringspot Virus
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Rash
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain, swine flu
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
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
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
-
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Sambucus nigra
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Elderberry
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Elderberry
In German
Shell Ginger
Holunderbeere
In French
Shell Ginger
Sureau
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Saúco
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Elderberry
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Sabugueiro
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Bez czarny
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Elderberry
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Dipsacales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Adoxaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Shell Ginger and Elderberry
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Elderberry. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Elderberry 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 Elderberry is constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain and swine flu. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Elderberry has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Elderberry
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 Elderberry 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 Elderberry have Diarrhea, Nausea and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Elderberry has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Elderberry is flowering. You can compare Shell Ginger and Elderberry facts and facts of other plants too.