Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southern Africa
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Number of Varieties
2025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1512-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Red, Pink, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
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
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Once a week
Soil
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
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
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Flies, Insects
Allergy
Rash
Dry Mouth
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Stem
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Hoodia gordonii
Common Name
Shell Ginger
ǁhoba, Ghaap
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Hoodia
In German
Shell Ginger
Hoodia
In French
Shell Ginger
Hoodia
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Hoodia
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Hoodia
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Hoodia
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Hoodia
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Hoodia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Gentianales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Hoodia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Stapeliae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Asclepiadoideae
Number of Species
15025
1
27800
👆🏻