Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
  
North America, Northwestern United States
  
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Tropical regions
  
Forests, gardens, Open Forest, Tropical regions, Wet forest
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
A3, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
  
White, Purple
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Red, Orange, Dark Red, Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
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, Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
  
Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
  
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, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Prune every year, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Billbugs, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
Yes
  
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
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Rash
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
  
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
  
ACER circinatum
  
Common Name
Shell Ginger
  
Oregon Vine Maple, Vine Maple
  
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
  
बेल मेपल
  
In German
Shell Ginger
  
Wein-Ahorn
  
In French
Shell Ginger
  
Maple Vine
  
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
  
arce vid
  
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
  
αμπέλου Maple
  
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
  
bordo de videira
  
In Polish
Shell Imbir
  
Vine Maple
  
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
  
vitis Maple
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Lilopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Sapindales
  
Family
Zingiberaceae
  
Aceraceae
  
Genus
Alpinia
  
Acer
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Alpinieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
  
Hippocastanoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available