Zingiber: ginger

This page has information about growing zingiber (ginger) at home in the Northern Territory (NT).

About zingiber

Name: zingiber.

Australian distribution: zingiber grows in northern parts of Australia, including the NT's Top End. 

Description

Zingiber is a plant that grows up to 2.5m tall. 

Groups of flowers are beehive shaped and can be yellow, orange or red. 

Preferred climate and soil

Zingiber likes to be partly shaded and in well-drained soil. 

Varieties

Singapore gold is grown in the NT. 

Propagation

Zingibers are usually grown from rhizomes - the main part of the roots. 

Flowering

The ornamental ginger group includes the beehive-shaped zingibers, which flower close to the ground, the torch gingers or etlingeras, and the red and pink alpinias. 

The beehive gingers have a break in flowering for a couple of months around March or April in the NT. 

Torch gingers do not flower for three to four months beginning in March. The alpinia ginger flowers all year round.

Harvest

Zingiber stems are usually cut at 45cm to 70cm. They will last in a vase for up to three weeks.