Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
  
Habitat
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
8-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
  
12-5
  
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
White, Red, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Multi-Color
  
Fruit Color
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Lance shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering
  
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
  
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, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Apply 8-4-6 amount
  
Pests and Diseases
Disease free, Red blotch
  
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Butterflies, Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Rash
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Leaves, Rhizomes
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
ALPINIA zerumbet
  
Common Name
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
Shell Ginger
  
In Hindi
Zizka
  
Shell Ginger
  
In German
Zizka
  
Shell Ginger
  
In French
Zizka
  
Shell Ginger
  
In Spanish
Zizka
  
Shell jengibre
  
In Greek
Zizka
  
Shell Τζίντζερ
  
In Portuguese
Zizka
  
Shell Ginger
  
In Polish
Zizka
  
Shell Imbir
  
In Latin
Žižka
  
Crusta Ginger
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Lilopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Zingiberales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Zingiberaceae
  
Genus
Melinis
  
Alpinia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Alpinieae
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Alpinioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available