Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Costus Speciosa Variegata-pic, 1 by gingersrus

gingersrus wrote:
There are just two variegated Costus commonly found in US horticulture, and they look somewhat similar but are not hard to tell apart even when not in flower. There is the one in Moodine's photo that is actually now called Cheilocostus speciosus 'Variegata' due to a recent reclassification of Costaceae. It can usually be distinguished by a reddish tint to the stems and a soft velvety feel to the undersides of the leaves. Sometimes it forms the tight spirals that make it such a beautiful landscape plant. When it flowers, it has the same reddish bracts and white flowers as the non-variegated Cheilocostus speciosus. More photos at http://www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=3238 .

The other one is usually found in horticulture under the incorrect name of Costus amazonicus, due to an incorrect identification made many years ago by someone (nameless here) and given to Tim Chapman for his ginger book. It is now well established that this is a variegated form of the South American species Costus arabicus. It produces green or variegated green and white stems and the undersides of the leaves feel somewhat scabrid or rough - not felty. When it flowers, the bracts are also variegated green and white like the leaves, and the flowers are white but not as wide and flat. This plant will often revert back to solid green as shown in this photo I took last week at Lyon Arboretum in Hawaii. More photos at http://www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=3236 .

Dave Skinner
http://www.gingersrus.com

Photo of Costus arabicus 'Var' at Lyon Arboretum, Oahu, Hawaii

This message was edited Oct 21, 2006 2:40 PM