Got this one from a friend of mine..
Costus Amazonicus Variegated
Nice picture of your arabicus. Found out from Dave that what is in this country isn't amazonicus. Don't you love how they can't just leave us alone? :) It is a beautiful plants. They come back pretty well from a freeze in our area too which is nice. We put most of ours in the greenhouse but I wanted one in the garden so I left one out last year to test it since the green is so cold hardy and it didn't go completely back. I was pleasantly surprised.
Liz
Well hello lady! I haven't seen you in awhile. How is my pretty Daisymae??
I have killed this one several times. I will say not really my falult since they came sickly and died within days of receiving it. I have given up on having this one.
OK, guys. I need some help. I posted a question about this earlier and never got the definitive answer. I have it in the ground - second year. It comes back in late spring, and never really gets going enough to get very large or bloom before it is frozen (more like frosted) back again. Does this ginger go dormant if it doesn't get down to freezing (or near freezing)? Is it evergreen in warmer zones? I have thought about potting it up and bringing it in the house for an over-winter house plant if it is evergreen. On the other hand, if it goes dormant anyway, I'll just leave it where it is. Do you know?
Mine goes dormant every year here...I cover it up with leaf mulch and burlap..
It is is evergreen - not deciduous. There are only two species of Costus that are truly deciduous. Costus spectabilis and Costus subsessilis. If grown in a warm greenhouse it will stay evergreen and bloom as in this photo.
http://www.gingersrus.com/images/ImageFrame.php?ImageID=10622
Not sure whether that would work in the house unless there is enough light and humidity.
The correct identity of this plant is Costus arabicus 'Variegatus'. It was incorrectly identified many years ago and the wrong name has stuck around in horticulture ever since.
Thank you, thank you gingersrus. That's what I needed to know. I will pot it up and bring it in. Even if it doesn't bloom, it will have a head start in the spring.
CJ
I've got a basement area for overwintering semi-dormant pots... there's a south-facing double window, so while it's not as bright as the upstairs morning room, there's some light at least. Scented geraniums and amaryllis plants are fairly happy in that window, and that's also where I've got some semi-dormant potted banana plants (still green!). Temperature is 60-60 degrees most of the time, rarely maybe down to 50.
So... Could I successfully overwinter this costus in the basement, do you think? I can't bring another large plant into the upstairs living space, or my remarkably tolerant DH will become remarkably less so, LOL.
Thanks!
lovely photo, Dave.
Will get that photo of my mystery Ginger up soon. It has been raining so hard...afraid to take the camera out.