Alpinia zerumbet (Shell Ginger)

[M Farooq]

Botanical Name	Alpinia zerumbet
Family	Zingiberaceae
Local Name in Urdu	Not a local plant
Common Name	Shell ginger
Life Cycle	Evergreen
Cultivar Name	NA
Fragrant or Not	Fragrant
Category(Bush/Vine/Tree)	Clump forming perennial
Height	Up to 10 ft
Spacing	Grows as clumps
Flowering Months	Blooms intermittently, mainly in spring
Flower Color	Yellow flowers with red throat
Growing Areas	Tropical pant
Frost Tender	Yes
Exposure	Partial shade, warm and moist atmosphere
Soil pH	No specific issues
Propagation	Division of rhizomes
Uses	Ornamental and medicinal
Other Details	Alpinia as the name indicates belongs to the Alpine region. This evergreen clump forming perennial grows around 10 ft with a spread of 5-10 ft. The "stems" of of Alpinia are not true stems but densely wrapped leaves just like banana. Shell-flower is commonly called shell ginger or shellflower because its individual shell pink flowers, particularly when in bud, resemble sea shells. It is distinguished from other members of the ginger family by the fact that its flowers droop from the ends of leafy stems rather than rise directly from plant rhizomes. The fragrant flowers are waxy; light pink flower buds open to tubular flowers with yellow inside lips and red throats (http://www.rain-tree.com/shell-flower.htm). Images by A. Y. Khan