KINGDOM: Plantae
ORDER: Zingiberales
FAMILY: Zingiberaceae
GENUS: Zingiber
SPECIES: Z. spectabile
Zingiber spectabile is a species of true ginger which is native to Southeast Asia.
Beehive ginger plants require medium to filtered sunlight (direct sunlight can burn the leaves) and either plenty of space in the garden, or a very large container. Keep the soil consistently moist – basically the ideal beehive ginger care would mimic that of its tropical home – damp with indirect light and high humidity, which is usually not a problem here on the Coffs Coast!
Beehive ginger (Zingiber spectablis) are a species of ornamental ginger cultivated primarily for their distinctive appearance. Most people are familiar with edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) but it is only one of hundreds of the Zingiberaceae family. These colourful and exotically stunning flowers instantly add a dash of the tropics to any room or garden. Beehive gingers grow well in pots and are brilliant in any Coffs Harbour garden.
These plants can grow almost to 2 metres high with leaves up to 30cm long. These gingers get their common name from the fact that the bracts, which are modified leaves, grow in the shape of a beehive.
Native to Southeast Asia, beehive gingers, like all ginger plants, thrive in warm, humid climates. They do need space though and indirect sunlight as too much strong sun can scorch the leaves. Although having said that, the red are more vibrant with more sun. Gingers really enjoy a consistently moist soil.
From former Coffs Garden Club member Gavin:
Beehives are flowering at this time (April), the deciduous ones in particular like Cocoa Delight (R) and the Jewel Pagoda Ginger. They are great for a cut flower and last a long time. They look like a cone and grow up out from the ground. They come in lots of colours from white to brown, yellow, orange and red. Little orchid like flowers grow out of the cones. The cones come in many shapes and sizes.’
Gavin was our subtropical plant guru until he moved away from the Coffs area. We really miss him – but our loss is Queensland’s gain.
Thanks Gavin
