Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Tropical regions
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Not Available
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
Allergy
Rash
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin and hair
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Groundcover
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Myristica fragrans
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Nutmeg
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
जायफल
In German
Shell Ginger
Muskatnuss
In French
Shell Ginger
noix de muscade
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
nuez moscada
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
μοσχοκάρυδο
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
noz-moscada
In Polish
Shell Imbir
gałka muszkatołowa
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
nutmeg
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Magnoliales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Poaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Myrtoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Shell Ginger and Nutmeg
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Nutmeg. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg is Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms and Thoat infection. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Nutmeg has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Nutmeg
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 Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg have Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache and Pollen respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Nutmeg has no showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Nutmeg is not flowering . You can compare Shell Ginger and Nutmeg facts and facts of other plants too.