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Ginger Flowers

Shell Ginger Flowers

Red Ginger Flower

Top = Shell Ginger Flower = Alpinia zerumbet

Bottom = Red Ginger Flower = Alpinia purpurata

Neither of these are the same plant we regularly use for belly aches, but the flowers are awesome. These photos were both taken at Pinecrest Park in S. Miami very early one summer morning. The angle of the sun and the sticky/suffocating/wet humid air made for some lovely lighting effects. 

I also have the sneaking suspicion that my earlier “soft serve” cone flowers also belong to the ginger family due to the stacked nature and growth patterns of the flowers…

Shell Ginger Flower
This plant is native to southeast Asia but has been widely naturalized in Brazil; they are hardy growers with the right conditions. They need well drained and organically rich soil and prefer moderate shade and high humidity. The leaves generally have interesting irregular strip patterns and it makes for a really attractive plant overall. The flowers form in long stalks that often arch over with their own weight. The flowers produce 3 stamens, but only one has pollen. Generally they grow 6 ft, but certain species can grow up to 12 ft. The rhizomes (root like underground stem) is used in plant variegation. It is thought that it got it’s name because the individual light pink flowers resemble sea shells.

Though it looks like the ginger you can buy for food/medicine – the shell ginger rhizome isn’t generally used as such. Although the rhizomes of the shell ginger do contain kavain and dehydrokavain which are also found in the Kava plant (known for relaxing effects). For that reason, sometimes the leaves and oils of some shell ginger species are used for anti-stress and anti-hypertension qualities. Though if you’re looking for an easy way to get the same effect – I bet $1 that your local organic food market carries kava kava tea that does the trick nicely. Mmm… sleepy tea. 

Red Ginger Flower
This flower is considered “very showy” and is also known as Jungle Queen (+awesome+). This perennial monocot is native to Malaysia and is common to the tropical US (Hawaii and Puerto Rico) and can do well in S. Florida. It has spread to other tropical areas including Samoa and Central America. It needs rich, well drained soil, shade and to be kept warm. For that reason you can keep showy red ginger flowers easily as house plants. It grows from the same rhizome structure as the shell ginger above. These flowers don’t really seem to smell – but since I’m awesomely allergic to every lovin’ plant it is possible that my mucous was blocking the olfactory delights. That was a nice way to say I had to much snot to smell, right?