I thought I was buying a ginger but when I looked it up on google it seems it is not and it is a picky plant. A Ctenanthe lubbersii. It was labeled California Variegated Ginger.
I think I goofed
The leaves are so pretty.
I have one indoors, Kell, and I don't find it to be picky at all!
I've heard others say they like to be almost 'wet'....but mine dries out fairly often, and despite a few dry leaves that have to be trimmed off, it's pretty easy.
Mine does seem happiest when it's kept 'moist'.
I love mine too!
kell, I think that is some kind of calathea. will do well for you. mine gets no attention, a little sad in the winter but that's it. mine is planted in full shade, moist area. I think it also does well as a house plant but I think it is higher maintenance this way
We douse ours when I think of it.
But nothing special.
I do find though that cutting it almost back to the ground every Spring makes it look better.
Ric
Ric...I'd never considered cutting mine back, even though it's quite large and grows rather 'haphazardly', (so to speak!)....so it really does come back nicely?
Do you grow it indoors all year as I do or do you place it outdoors during the summer months?
It just sits in a corner in the living room during the Winter.
It goes pretty much dormant.
It comes back well from a shearing.
The new grown is lush and quite colorful.
Takes about 3 weeks to start looking spiffy.
I've had it 5 or 6 years now.
Ric
This is all good news. THANKS
So Vossner, yours lives outside all year round in zone 9A? It is really pretty!
And if you want to make more...just cut below the 'V' of the stem and stick in a pot. Very forgiving plant...I use it a lot to brighten up dark areas as it likes shade.
Now I am downright excited!!
kell, it is driving me crazy because I cannot remember the exact name of plant. I can see the website in my head but for the life of me I can't get back to it. It is in the ginger family, a maranta, but there's more to the name. It is not a prayer plant (but it is related). Anyway, sooner or later it will come to me.
and yes, mine is outside and I do nothing to it.
AlohaHoya, I have made a mental note on your tip on how to prog.
well, I got somewhere. Its common name is bamburanta. I did some research and the botany is as follows;
Class; zingiber
Family: marantacea
Genus: trachyphrynium or ctenanthe
but if I couldn't remember bamburanta I'll never remember trachy%^&**(((
LOL Vossner. THANKS!!!
We call it Dinosaur Foot here.
Can you start new plants from the cuttings??? Very nice!!
I have a ginger, but my leaves aren't as pretty. It is a fairly easy plant and the blooms smell heavenly! I have it outside in partial shade, and also keep him quite moist. So far so good, and I'm knocking on wood. I think you'll like him. Here's one of my blooms. :)
ServantsHeart, apparently it is easy to prop. See alohahoya posting above. I haven't tried yet, but I will. I have another plant in that same family and it has been easy to root, so will assume it's the same with bamburanta aka elephant foot aka ctenanthe.
I have one too and what an easy plant to grow. I put it out on my shaded porch and water it once a week. That's it. I've accidently let it completely dry out, drenched it where there's water in the saucer and it just keeps on growing.
Is that becuase of the way the leaves fan out, Roz? Kind of does look like a foot. More like a duck though. LOL
I may go back and buy their other one then if they are so easy. They are huge and were just $11. They would be good tucked here and there in the garden for some color.
Christina, your ginger is so pretty! We have those growing here. Their fragrance fills whole yards. Almost too strong to bring inside. I bet you can grow great things in San DIego. I always wanted to live there!! Such a beautiful town.
In a rash of stupidity I planted some of those Ctenanthe ('tenanthey') in the sun...and at first they looked positively fried but have recovered and are growing low and dense....nice effect! They do get some shade from the cordylines around them....
Kell...you have mail.
Carol
kell if I am thinking right I believe you can chop the place where it sends up the leaves where it "W"and stick it in the ground and keep it moist and it will root. my friend has a solid green one. and he gave me a peice it rooted but I am not a house plant person....
ely
Kell, I don't know about 'great' but I'm having fun trying. I've been experimenting with all kinds of things and have already had some successes and some not so successes. ;) I do love the ginger smell though, it's wonderful and I love to leave my windows open so that it penetrates the house. I wish mine had your pretty leaves though.
I haven't had houseplants for years Ely except for amaryllis, those I always have blooming inside. But I got the variegated monstera and then I took home lots of houseplants that my mother had and the floodgates opened. Suddenly I have tons. Though this one I am going ot plant outside, I gather from the posts it will overwinter here, I hope.
Christina, I do not think this one is a true ginger and I do not think it will bloom. I could be wrong....................... I hope I am wrong. LOL
It's definitely a neat one.
:) Donna
Anyone who has cuttings of this plant want to trade or do postage for a couple pieces (rooted or not)??
Bonnie
Hey, Bonnie.
I just took a few cuts a few days ago and you're welcome to some of them.
E-me if you're interested.
So if I was to go shopping for one what name would I be looking for? I have only seen about 4 or 5 in this thread.
Kell it is a very fascinating looking plant. I love the variegation in the leaves.
I have a corner in my living room that doesn't get any sun and I think it would fit in there very nicely.
Linda
lol! More than likely 'Tropical Foliage'!!
The name I've seen most often is Ctenanthe, but I've seen them tagged as Calatheas, too.
I guess it all depends on who's selling it.
Look at Lowes or HD.
The correct name for them is Tropical Foliage 10" Black Pot. lol
Ric
That is too funny! I go to HD and Lowes at least 3 times a week and I never noticed them before. Goes to show you how observant I am! I go this one at Orchards Supply. It is such a pretty one, well grown, huge and inexpensive. Just my kind. .
Thanks Nan and Ric
Linda
You're welcome!
My neighbor bought at Lowes 3 last week for a landscape project.
I think they were around $9.98.
Ric
henry that was funny! (and accurate)
Kell...according to one of my books (Plants for Tropical Landscapes) the name of your Ctenanthe is 'Ctenanthe pilosa 'Golden Mosaic'...it can get up to 5' tall. Here is another Ctenanthe and I had thought THIS one was lubbersii... (golden mosaic to the lower left). There is also one like the Golden Mosaic with more white and red on the backside called oppenheimiana 'Tricolor'.
Very nice, Carol. Mine is the one to the far left side. Your center one has so much more diffuse variegation. Funny how variegated plants are just calling to me.
I had a good laugh today. Went to a Lowes and they have beautiful pots of the ctenanthe labeled as "alpinia zerumbet" ($12.99). I couldn't believe my eyes. I checked all the pots and all were labeled the same. The label was from Hines Nursery, who is obvious need of a decent botanist/labeler?
...or an introduction to the internet? Libraries? Books? Botany?
The one I have here in Iowa wintered over well in the house (and I am good at killing houseplants). It grew a lot over the winter and looked healthy. I set it outside to early and the freeze killed all the leaves. Now at the end of the summer it has come back and looks healthy.
The one I have at the house in Orange Co, CA is in full shade under the overhang by the front door.It is about 3-4 ft. diameter but with little height. The stalks splay out like they are too heavy to stand up straight.
Beautiful plant . . . regardless of its name.
twinchef, that zingiber zerumbet or variegated shell ginger of yours is just beautiful. I find mine sort of droop also but I don't mind at it provides protection for lower plants.
Thanks, vossner!
It gets no care, leaves pretty, and no bugs or disease.