This perennial herb has branched aromatic rhizomes that give rise to cane-like stems and forms a bushy habit. It has dark green divided leaves and the pale yellow tube-shaped flowers appear in an erect bracketed spike during summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Zingiber spectabileis naturally found from Malaysia to Thailand growing in tropical forests on the coast and on the mountains hillsides from sea level to an altitude of 1,200m (3937 ft).

It prefers a protected semi-shaded to sunny position and grows in well drained organic rich moist soil that is tending acidic with a pH 6.1-6.5 and is frost and drought tender.

Beehive Ginger is grown for its flowers, foliage and clumping habit. It is planted in tropical or subtropical gardens as a specimen along borders or around a water feature. It is also mass planted in parks or used in the understory in a tropical setting. It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions, establishing in 2-3 years.

In cool regions it is grown in a glasshouse in the soil or it will survive zone 8 if the roots are mulched. It normally only flowers in tropical regions and the flowers are used in floral arrangements. It can be grown in tubs or planter boxes or used in courtyards. ID 2960

Zingiber(ZING-gi-ber) spectabile(speck-TAB-ih-lee)

Zingiberaceae     (ZIN-jee-ber-AY-see-ee)
Ginger Family