Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
  
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
  
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Tropical regions
  
Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
10-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12-9
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H2, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,370.00 cm
  
31
Minimum Width
1,520.00 cm
  
10
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green, Gray Green, Gray
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Gray Green, Gray
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
  
Maple shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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 Fast
  
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
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
  
Water daily during growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Moderate
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Less Watering
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Less Watering
  
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
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Aphids, Insects
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Rash
  
Nausea, Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Cottage Garden
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Shadow Tree
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
  
Cramps, Dermatitis
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
  
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
  
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, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
  
ALEURITES moluccanus
  
Common Name
Shell Ginger
  
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
  
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
  
Aleurites moluccanus
  
In German
Shell Ginger
  
Lichtnussbaum
  
In French
Shell Ginger
  
Aleurites moluccana
  
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
  
Aleurites moluccanus
  
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
  
Aleurites moluccanus
  
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
  
Nogueira-de-iguape
  
In Polish
Shell Imbir
  
Nogueira-de-iguape
  
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
  
Aleurites moluccanus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Lilopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Euphorbiales
  
Family
Zingiberaceae
  
Euphorbiaceae
  
Genus
Alpinia
  
Aleurites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Alpinieae
  
Aleuritideae
  
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
  
Crotonoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available