Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Canada
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Chinese kousa dogwood, Blue Shadow kousa, Weaver's Weeping dogwood
Number of Varieties
204
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
gardens, Near ponds, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-154-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm550.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm490.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Cold climate, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, occasional watering once established
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, 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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Prune once the plant is tall enough
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Fertilize in early spring, Mulch
Pests and Diseases
-
Crown rot, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Humidity, Light Frost
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Squirrels
Allergy
Rash
allergic conjunctivitis, Headache, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
For treating wrinkles, Makes teeth white, Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Acne, Antibiotic, Appetite enhancer, Cough, Diuretic, Emollient, Nutrients, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Bark, Flowers, 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
Application in Handicrafts, Decoration Purposes, Grown for shade, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
CORNUS alternifolia
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Alternate-leaved Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Cornus
In German
Shell Ginger
Wechselblättriger Hartriegel
In French
Shell Ginger
Cornus
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Cornus alternifolia
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Cornus
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Cornus
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Dereń
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Cornus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Cornales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Cornaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Cornus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Alpinieae
-
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
-
Number of Species
15017
1
27800
👆🏻