Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Hybrid origin
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Alocasia macrorhizzos, Alocasia odora
Habitat
Tropical regions
Pastures, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
10-12
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
V-Shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
creeping rhizomes, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Needs a lot of water initially
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
No pruning needed, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Leaf rust, Leaf spot, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Humidity, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Butterflies, pollinators, Snakes
Allergy
Rash
conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Sore Throat, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Glowing Skin, Hair Conditioner
Edible Uses
Yes
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Aging, Digestion problems, Rheumatism
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Application in Handicrafts, Florist trade and landscaping, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
ALOCASIA x amazonica
Common Name
Shell Ginger
African Mask, Amazon Taro, Elephant Ear
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Alocasia
In German
Shell Ginger
Alocasia
In French
Shell Ginger
Alocasia
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Alocasia
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Alocasia
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Alocasia
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Alocasia
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Alocasia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Arales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Araceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Shell Ginger and Kris Plant
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Kris Plant. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Kris Plant 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 Kris Plant is Aging, Digestion problems and Rheumatism. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Kris Plant has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Kris Plant
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 Kris Plant 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 Kris Plant have conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Sore Throat 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 Kris Plant has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Kris Plant is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Kris Plant facts and facts of other plants too.