Now is the time for gingers! Here are mine that have started blooming for the 2019 season
These bloomed first, Costus




First Hedychium opened, Daniel Weeks as usual early bloomer






I wonder whatever happened to Daniel? He was a nice guy.

Gina, I really like the first Costus, I knew there was one to open like that, so pretty, I only have the bud type.

Here's some blooming right now in my garden.
Alpinia calcarata

Alpinia NOID got from a round up

Costus just starting to bloom

CURCUMA zedoaria (hidden ginger), first time in three years it has bloomed.

Love! I think the pineapple one is Costus varzearum, I may have to look it up, it has velvety undersides to the leaves. The bud one is I believe woosdonii

I also have Costus woodsonii, not blooming yet since it frosted back, it is more of a cluster ginger and doesn't get anywhere near as tall as the one I posted, and the bud gets longer and deeper red. I like that one, I think the one I posted is Costus spiralis, gets pretty tall...not real exciting...ants love it.

This isn't blooming but its my favorite peacock ginger so I keep in in a pot. Its funny iy never multiplies like the others do. I think its the one called African Queen. Or Silver Queen. It just came up this week


This is just the normal one, blooming


My Alpinia is almost done but keeps putting out a few last blooms

Only one ginger bloom at this moment. But I love it. I smuggled this from Manoa Falls Trail in Oahu Hawaii about -4 years ago.

And my peacock ginger from the arboretum plant sale this spring. k.alva no blooms yet but who cares, the leaves are pretty enough!

Cheryl are the leaves velvety? I think its the same as mine. Hafta look it up. I used to have so many different costus! Only have a few now.

I just looked up my Costus in the old plant files I have of some of my plants. Wish I had them for ALL of my plants. Mine is the Dwarf Costus Barbatus. I got it from Aloha Tropicals way back in the wayback ,c2006. Used to have a lot of COstus like the chalice ones and the lollipop ones but no longer have them.

Gina1960 said:Cheryl are the leaves velvety? I think its the same as mine. Hafta look it up. I used to have so many different costus! Only have a few now.

The costus? No they are slick like all my Spiral ginger.
The Peacock Ginger is slick as well and similar to my Hosta.

Then I would say C. curvibrachateaus

Gina1960 said:Then I would say C. curvibrachateaus

Thank YOU! Since I stole it from the forest, it wasn't labeled.

I think I misspelled that. Curvibracteatus!

Hi Gina. I can recall some related or similar kinds that were called Ginger, in Hawaii. One was Pink Torch, & can't recall if it was quite the same, Kahili Ginger. But if I could grow them like you might, in Florida, I most certainly would give them a go, of it !

I have grown the Alpinia purpuratas, I have some now that are still small, I took the mature plants out years ago because I made a mistake planting them in the ground in my greenhouse, their spread is huge and they grow and form huge clumps. Its easy to keep them containerized though and they will bloom in large tubs.

I also have Torch gingers (Etlingeras). They are pretty cool. Their blooms are basal, not terminal. None are in bloom at the moment maybe later in summer

I am fairly certain, I had planted a small piece of "Kahili" ( gardenerianium?) but it was only about two feet tall & had orange speckles on it. From an empty lot, on the beach side, not far downstream from Sacred Falls,. State Park, (made off limits to visitors, since then..) The beautiful waterfall, came down a nearly vertical cliff & was a danger, due to flash flooding.

I have Kahili in my yard. It is usually the last one of the Hedychiums to start blooming for me

That Etlingera (Torch "ginger") is a real beauty. I'm glad you've got it & would love to see yours, when in bloom !
btw, my Vandas are doing well & forgot to buy new wood slat hanging baskets for them, last time I went to Countryside Garden center.

These are older photos of past Alpinia purpurata ginger blooms from my greenhouse

And Etlingera (torch ginger)

Gina1960 said:I just looked up my Costus in the old plant files I have of some of my plants. Wish I had them for ALL of my plants. Mine is the Dwarf Costus Barbatus. I got it from Aloha Tropicals way back in the wayback ,c2006. Used to have a lot of COstus like the chalice ones and the lollipop ones but no longer have them.

Thanks

This is my peacock ginger, smooth leaves no idea what kind, it was given to me many years ago. Squirrels have relocated some to other areas in my garden. These are the original pots, dormant in winter months.