Hi
Can anyone tell me where I can source some Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) rhizomes? If anyone has some for trade I have lots of gingers that I could trade with. Just let me know your wishes!
Thanks
Heather
elettaria cardamomum (cardamom)
I second that! I bought "cardamom" at the Leu Gardens Plant Sale three years ago and it turned out to be the false cardamom. I bought it from an herb seller too! It only gets between 2-3 feet tall. The leaves smell great though when crushed. I want to find the real cardamom though.
Brad
I have argued til I was blue with some nursery owners who insisted they had the real cardamom spice plant when it was really an Alpinia that is usually sold as false cardamom or Alpinia nutans - sometimes as Amomum cardamomum. It is indeed sold by several herb specialists (like the very good O'Toole's Herb Farm west of Tallahassee.
I have always been told that the real cardamom spice plant, Elettaria cardamomum, is impossible to grow in the US because it requires a very specific climate - not too hot but never freezing and with year-round moisture and high humidity. I believe it is native to the high altitude cloud forests of tropical Asia. However, last year I saw it growing in the garden of a friend of mine in SW Florida. It was not in flower or fruit when I saw it, but I did get photos of the plant, about 6-7 feet tall, growing in light shade. Jim told me he grew it from fresh seeds that were sent to him from a cardamom grower in Guatamala. He lost his mother plant to Hurricane Wilma, but has several seedlings from seed he harvested from the mother plant.
I have never seen this plant offered for sale - plants or rhizomes - and could only suggest that you try to find a grower of the spice in Asia (or elsewhere in the tropics) and contact them.
BTW, the new USDA regulations which went into affect just a couple of months ago allow for the importation of small lots of seeds without requiring a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin. You have to get a special import permit (which is free) and the seeds must meet requirements of the regs and be inspected, but no phytos are required. More information is here:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantproducts/seedweb.html
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
Thanks, guys.
If I find a source I will let you know. I have worked for two different botanical gardens in the past year (here in SE Fla), and at both places we had the true cardamom, but both were stolen! Seems to be a prized commodity.
Heather
Hi all
I do have Elettaria cardamomum, but not enough to go around. It grows well here in eastern NC as it gets all the humidity it wants and I do keep it in a nice mostly shady spot to keep it from getting burned up in our summer heat.
Come late fall or early spring I may be able to divide it and put some up for trade.
Greg