Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Ratibida columnifera
Habitat
Tropical regions
Dry areas, Prairies, Rocky areas, rocky outcrops
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
3-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Subulate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full 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, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
-
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Analgesic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers
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 in making tea
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
RATIBIDA columnifera
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Mexican Hat
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Mexican Hat
In German
Shell Ginger
Mexican Hat
In French
Shell Ginger
Mexican Hat
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
mexican Hat
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Mexican Hat
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Mexican Hat
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Mexican Hat
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Mexicanus Hat
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Asterales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Asteraceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Shell Ginger and Mexican Hat
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Mexican Hat. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Mexican Hat 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 Mexican Hat is Analgesic. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Mexican Hat has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Mexican Hat
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 Mexican Hat 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 Mexican Hat have Rhinitis respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Mexican Hat has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Mexican Hat is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Mexican Hat facts and facts of other plants too.