Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Not avilable
Habitat
Tropical regions
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
-9999
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Weeping
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Dark Salmon, Sandy Brown, White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Multi-Color
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Winter, Mid Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
-
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
-
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
-
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
-
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Fruits, Nut
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 Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Selenicereus pteranthus
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Selenicereus, Moonlight cactus
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
moonlight cactus
In German
Shell Ginger
Selenicereus
In French
Shell Ginger
Selenicereus
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Selenicereus
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Selenicereus
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Selenicereus
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Selenicereus
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
moonlight cactus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Caryophyllales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Selenicereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Hylocereeae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Cactoideae
Importance of Shell Ginger and Moonlight cactus
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Moonlight cactus. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Moonlight cactus 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 Moonlight cactus is . Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Moonlight cactus has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Moonlight cactus
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 Moonlight cactus 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 Moonlight cactus have Itchiness respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Moonlight cactus has showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Moonlight cactus is flowering. You can compare Shell Ginger and Moonlight cactus facts and facts of other plants too.