Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Plants and Gardens #130, 2 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
That's right, Alice, they are C. scaber. Deb, I'll send you starts of any ginger you'd like, but that one is difficult . . . they're growing and filling in nicely in my big, shady border under the big oak tree but they're about 7ft. tall before they decide it's ok to bloom. I think they're finally doing well because I am watering that border consistently, now that I have free well water. Plus we've had two mild winters.

The other spiral gingers I have - starts from Rita a couple of years ago, are much nicer. The pretty variegated one is a cultivar of Costus arabica, with striped leaves, red stems and leaf reverses. Rita called it "Rainbow costus". Plus I also have the little one with the yellow/red striped flowers. Both of them flower much more easily than the C. scaber.

I wonder when Rita will show up around here again? If she has moved, she will be wanting starts of her lovely plants back from us, I'd bet!