Seed preparation
The red, woody capsules split when ripe and hold many glossy black seeds with a fleshy aril. Rub the aril off in water and sow the seed fresh if you can.
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Ornamental plant growing guide
Crepe ginger is a tall tropical perennial with spiralling stems and white, crinkled flowers on red bracts. Sow fresh seed shallowly in warm, moist mix and grow the seedlings on in rich, damp soil.
The red, woody capsules split when ripe and hold many glossy black seeds with a fleshy aril. Rub the aril off in water and sow the seed fresh if you can.
Not needed. There is no published evidence that the seed coat blocks germination.
Not needed. This is a tropical plant and cold treatment would harm the seed.
Not needed beyond cleaning. A few hours in lukewarm water while removing the aril does no harm.
Keep trays warm, as in the plant's native tropical forests. In India sow in the warm months before or during the monsoon; in cooler climates use a heated propagator or a warm room.
Press the seeds into the surface and cover them only with a thin layer of fine mix.
A rich, moisture-holding seed mix, for example potting mix with perlite and peat or coir.
Keep the mix constantly moist; cover the tray with clear plastic or glass to hold humidity, and air it daily.
Bright, indirect light; avoid direct midday sun on the tray.
Germination can be slow and uneven. Keep conditions steady and do not discard the tray too early.
When seedlings have a few true leaves, move each into its own pot of rich, moist potting mix.
Plant out in warm weather into moist, fertile loam in semi-shade or morning sun. Allow room: clumps spread by rhizomes and stems can reach about 3 m (10 ft).
Keep young plants well watered and fed lightly with a balanced fertilizer in the growing season. Seed-raised plants build up a rhizome before they flower.
Crepe ginger likes plenty of water and tolerates wet soil, so it suits damp, low spots where many plants would rot.
Semi-shade or morning sun gives the best foliage. It tolerates full sun only where the soil stays moist.
Divide clumps, lay 20 cm (8 in) stem pieces flat on moist soil in warm weather, or pot the small aerial plantlets the stems produce.
Birds spread the seeds and the plant has naturalized in Hawaii. Outside its native Asian range, check local rules and keep it away from natural forest.
Sow fresh crepe ginger seed in warm, moist mix for a tall, spiralling tropical perennial.
Yes. It is one plant under several names: Costus speciosus, Cheilocostus speciosus and, in Kew's current list, Hellenia speciosa.
It tolerates more sun than other spiral gingers, but leaves scorch in all-day hot sun if the soil dries. Morning sun or semi-shade is best.
It goes dormant in cool or dry seasons. The rhizome survives and sends up new stems when warm, wet weather returns.
Grow it in a large pot in a warm, bright room or greenhouse and keep it moist in summer. In mild areas the rhizome can survive outdoors and resprout after cold winters, but frost kills the stems.