This is my favorite Costus from Africa. It grows large flat leaves that stay flat to the ground they get around 2 feet across and look like giant 4 leaf clover floor mats. The flowers are yellow and come up right in the middle of the leaves. Reminds me of Kempferias which I like to collect but still very different.
Weird, are those flower-runners from the Costus? I imagine this one isn't hardy-I wish all exotics were..
Very pretty
This plant sends out underground runner and the flower in the photo are a curcuma I believe. This plant is not flowering but if it was it would have large yellow flowers coming out of the center of the 4 leaves.
Cool! Might have to start hunting for this one!
bwilliams, you aren't growing that one outdoors over winter in Kentucky, are you? It is one of the two deciduous species of Costus and should potentially be fairly hardy, but I have had trouble with the long runner rhizomes rotting if kept moist in winter. It grows in eastern Africa in areas with a distinct dry season. If grown as a potted plant, needs a very wide shallow tray to give the runner rhizomes room.
More photos and info at http://www.gingersrus.com/DataSheet.php?PID=3608
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
I have not had any luck growing it out doors all winter. I have had luck growing it outside just for the summer months and bringing it back in for winter. I have also had it in raised beds with my amorphophallus collection which it does well with.
