Shell Ginger in zone 9

[dalmatiansoap]

I would love to grow some Shell Gingers here in zone 9 Med climate but I dont know if Shell Ginger is hardy for my zone?

Anybody growing it in these conditions?

Any pics, tips, ideas???

[Kailua_Krish]

I've found the green version to be much more reliable than the variegated in my 9a climate. My climate is more humid/subtropical though as I'm in the SE US.

[gilles06]

No problem for you, the rhizome can withstand -10°C...don't let it dry in summer.

[Trava]

I like variegated form

[gsytch]

Hedychiums would be a better choice. All of them easily grow and reliably bloom in your zone, but Shell Ginger will also do fine. I usually hack all my Gingers back in winter so they have a fresh start come spring, but I do not freeze yearly.

[tank]

Had shell ginger at my old house in 8b, cut it back in the winter. Grew like mad. Actually became a bit of a nuisance as it would push into other beds and other unwanted spots.

[mnorell]

Remember that Alpinia zerumbet will never bloom for you if it freezes back yearly. This species can be placed in a protected spot and will reliably perform in the warmer areas of zone 9b, but in zone 9a it will most likely bloom only in rare years with the occasional winter that stays above about -2/-3C. Even for that, you will definitely need to keep it under overhead canopy so no frost can form on the foliage. Otherwise it is extremely root-hardy and you can enjoy the foliage each year even without any flowers.You may want to look for Alpinia japonica, which is a beautiful, low-growing plant that is amazingly leaf-hardy, to about 20F/-6C, if planted under some canopy. The beautiful flower-sprays look like miniature pink shell ginger, in March/April.

[_Keith]

This grows well for me just inside of some type of canopy to keep off the frost. In a frost free environment it will tolerate the upper 20s without freezing back. It flowers here, but not every year. It just depends on that ultimate low and a frost free environment. Of course, even it is freezes to the ground, as mine has before, it will rapidly grow back to its previous beauty as soon as the heat returns, it just may not flower that year.

[Silas_Sancona]

Pinstripes are slick!.. Hardy as well. :greenthumb:

-Nathan-

[Gonzer]

  On 12/29/2013 at 5:33 PM, tank said:

Had shell ginger at my old house in 8b, cut it back in the winter. Grew like mad. Actually became a bit of a nuisance as it would push into other beds and other unwanted spots.

It can be a royal pain in butt to eradicate entirely (if needed) but it does grow quite nicely.

[stygiana]

Hi Ante,

Alpinia zerumbet should grow in Makarska, providing you give it water during the growing season and a warm sheltered spot.

You noted something very important: "Med climate".

I lived in the Mediterranean for quite a few years, in different zones (9 and 10 in Southern France, and 10 in Southern Spain). And it's clearly very different compared to similar zones in South-Eastern USA. Many plants growing easily in, let's say zone 9, Florida or Louisiana, were difficult, even in zone 10 in Andalucia.

Shorter growing season, spring which are not as hot as there, less rain, dry wind, etc.

But Alpinia zerumbet is a very tough plant anyway, and should do fine in your garden.

Here is a link of plants grown in the Mediterranean basin:

http://www.jardinexotique.net/t4086-alpinia-zerumbet-une-vraie-mauvaise-herbe-dans-mon-climat

The person called Fred claims he is in a zone 10, situated 15 km North of Barcelona. This is a typical zone overstatement from European exotic plants forum. There is no zone 10 North of Barcelona, except maybe just a few tiny little spots right on the coast in places such as D'aiguafreda, Sa Tuna and Cadaquès. And they are only by an hair barely zone 10...

So this garden is most likely 9b.

Anyway, I saw even nicer looking shell gingers in zone 9 in southern France and Northern Italy, so again, I'm confident it should work. The only important thing is to make sure your plant is protected during the first years in case that (bad luck) a severe frost occurs during the first winters after it's put in the ground.

Once large and well installed, cold should not be a problem any more. Once big, it would grow back vigorously if leaves and even stems are frozen.

This is a most perfect plant for a tropical look in the Mediterranean!

[BigFrond]

Yeah, it's a big pain because they spread fast. U just need to control them every year by removing a good portion.

[_Keith]

Hey guys remember, if you have a real winter they don't spread fast. In fact you are lucky it they spread at all. Here in Zone 9a, the spread not a concern.

[stygiana]

  On 1/4/2014 at 12:03 AM, BigFrond said:

Yeah, it's a big pain because they spread fast. U just need to control them every year by removing a good portion.

I have to agree with Keith.

Excessive spread should not be a problem in Croatia!!!

If you consider the drought and the winter cold of a northern Mediterranean climate, then you realize that Alpinia zerumbet is just tough and vigorous enough to look OK there, but not invasive.

In fact, I wonder if it's not, in the end, a perfect choice plant for such marginal climates (while maybe not always so recommended in hot places where it thrives 100% but then may become invasive).

So, Ante, IMO, you can go ahead!

[dalmatiansoap]

Thanks guys,

Yes, Sebastian, Im pretty sure I ll try it (probably will have to start from seeds), I wouldnt mind if I loose some from time to time because Im growing lot of geraniums and ostespermums unprotected and they are similar hardy I guess.

[stygiana]

What you may occasionally loose is only the aerial part of the plant. The rhizomes will normally be safe, and that's what counts most, as it will sprout back from the rhizome after a frost.

Protect it with mulch during the first two or three winters, feed it and water it copiously during the growth season, and after that, it should survive even unprotected and sprout back from the rhizome as said above, without much risk.