ALPINIA PURPURATA - RED GINGER.
Common name
Red ginger, jungle queen, jungle king, opuhi uteute, gengibre rojo, Tahitian Ginger, Ostrich Plume.
Family Zingerberaceae (Ginger family).
Overview
Alpinia purpurata is a rhizomatous perennial from tropical America; it is a
very showy flower. It grows up to 9' tall and develops into large clumps. There are 2 (two) varieties: the
red - (Jungle king) and the pink one (Jungle queen). This is a ginger with deep red (pink) spikes
of flowers; small white flowers emerge from the bracts of the spike. It has larger shiny green oblong leaves
and very small seeds. The jungle king and -queen bloom year round and are used as tropical cut flowers.
Hardiness
USDA zone 9 - 11.
Propagation
Rhizomes and seeds.
Culture
Partial sun / light shade, well drained, moist soil. An excellent tropical container
plant; grows best above 50° F. Keep the growing area humid. It can be used in tropical cut flower arrangement.
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