Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southwestern United States, California
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
-
Habitat
Tropical regions
Dry areas, meadows
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Crimson
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
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
-
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oblong
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
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
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Do Not over Water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
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
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
-
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Burns, Snakebite, Stomach aliments
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
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
Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
PENSTEMON eatonii
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Firecracker Penstemon
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Firecracker penstemon
In German
Shell Ginger
Kracher penstemon
In French
Shell Ginger
Firecracker penstemon
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Penstemon del petardo
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
πυροτέχνημα penstemon
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Penstemon do foguete
In Polish
Shell Imbir
petarda penstemon
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Firecracker Persicaria
Order
Zingiberales
Lamiales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon 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 Firecracker Penstemon is Burns, Snakebite and Stomach aliments. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Firecracker Penstemon has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Firecracker Penstemon
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 Firecracker Penstemon 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 Firecracker Penstemon have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Firecracker Penstemon has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Firecracker Penstemon is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Firecracker Penstemon facts and facts of other plants too.