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Ornamental Gingers and Heliconias
including Cucurma, Alpinia, Hedychium, Dichorisandra, Zingiber, Globba, Etlingera, Elettaria and Costus
This is a broad group including plants of the families Heliconiaceae, Costaceae and Zingiberaceae. The so-called "Blue Ginger" (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) belongs to Commelinaceae. They are frequently discussed together because they're all tropical plants which produce flowers and foliage from stems that run in or on the ground (rhizomes). Most are grown for their flamboyant flowers, although the bold, tropical-look foliage is foliage is also appealing.
News
Ginger could be new weapon against fruit fly
Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology are looking for alternatives to conventional chemicals to control Queensland fruit fly. One potenial method involves using an extract of ginger called zingerone to lure male fruit flies into traps. Source: Qld fruit fly scientists in race against time (June, 2011)
Older news at bottom of page.Where to buy Gingers and Heliconias in Qld
Advertisements
The following advertisers may include online suppliers. For the most up-to-date information on plants in stock, opening hours, prices etc, be sure to visit the seller's website or contact the business directly.
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BAMBOO LAND Nursery & Parklands 87 Old Coach Road Howard QLD 4659 Ph. (07) 4129 4470 Fax. (07) 4129 0130 info@bambooland.com.au www.bambooland.com.au  |
All species are grown on display in the Bamboo Land gardens. Catering for customers from the small suburban garden, landscapers and commercial growers. Can ship to anywhere in Australia. Based near Hervey Bay, QLD. Gardens and nursery open 7 days. Refer to website for species selection and much more information. |
| EL ARISH TROPICAL EXOTICS PO Box 150, El Arish, Qld 4855 Ph: (07) 4068 5058 www.nqheliconias.com 
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El Arish Tropical Exotics supplies an extensive range of Heliconias & Gingers by retail, wholesale & mail order. The catalogue includes Zingiber, Alpinia, Hedychium, Costus, Etlingera, and Heliconia, including running H. psitticorum types. You'll find unusual varieties for the avid collector and a selection of tropicals for cooler climates. Most varieties are available as rhizomes. Potted or advanced plants also available by arrangement. Supplying strong, healthy stock is something we're committed to. Cut flowers of several varieties are also available. For more information, visit the El Arish Tropical Exotics WEBSITE |
Ginger and heliconia specialist nurseries or other suppliers offering these plants for sale to the public in Qld can advertise on this page. Information for Advertisers.
More Information
Gingers & Heliconias are generally plants for the tropics and subtropics. For borderline climates like Sydney, consult a specialist ginger nursery to find out which varieties are most cold tolerant.
Although they're not woody plants, some types can reach heights of several metres. Not all grow to these proportions, however, with other varieties reaching only 50 cm or less.
Most cultivated members of this group are "exotic" in terms of both looks and origin, but Australia does have some native gingers. Alpinia coerulea is widely available and a popular choice for rainforest gardens. Curcuma australasica is another Australian native becoming popular with ginger collectors.
More Online Resources
The following are for general information, research and ideas - some species or cultivars referred to in links may be unavailable in Australia or unsuitable or illegal to grow in Queensland.
Heliconias | Costus | Gingers | Cordylines | Landscaping Blog from N Qld
Zingiberaceae Lindl. Australian National Botanic Gardens
Australian Plant Image Index
Australian National Botanic Gardens (check Costaceae, Zingiberaceae)
My Favourite Rainforest Plants for Containers by David Ratcliffe, Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Plants of the Kakadu region Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia (Curcuma australasica)
Cut-flower Publications Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Northern Territory.
New Heliconia and Ginger Varieties for the Ornamental Industry Department of Business, Industry & Resource Development, Northern Territory (PDF)
Ornamental Plant Introductions (notes on Etlingera hemispherica, Zingiber otensii, Alpinia mutica) Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (PDF)
The Order Zingiberales Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Barbados
Ginger: Attractive foliage and stunning flowers for a shady Miami garden University of Florida (PDF)
Ginger Adds Spice To Mississippi Gardens, Too Office of Agricultural Communications, Mississippi State University USA
East Asian Flora Web Interesting plants from of Singapore and Malaysia including gingers
GingerGarden.com Texas, USA
Meet the Plants Pacific flora database of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, USA. Information on a number of Gingers and Heliconias
Gay's Gingers Texas USA
SFA Mast Arboretum News Summer 2003 "Tropical Temptations for the East Texas Landscape" includes some tips for cooler climates. Stephen F. Austin State University (PDF)
Tropical Plants Offer New Possibilities for Georgia Gardens University of Georgia, USA
Cultural Studies in Ornamental Ginger Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University USA
Patricia's Garden Gingers (lots of pictures) Florida, USA
Alpinia
Variegated Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata') At the "Grow Me Instead" website, Australia
Alpinia zerumbet, Shell Ginger The Florez Nursery blog, NSW
Alpinia zerumbet Shell Ginger, Shellflower. University of Florida (PDF)
Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata', Variegated Shellflower University of Florida (PDF)
Alpinia zerumbet UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia, Canada
Shell Ginger Alpinia zerumbet. Flowers of India
Irrigation and Nutrition Management in Alpinia as a Possible Control of Alpinia Leaf Scorch (Second part of this document) Department of Business, Industry & Resource Development, Northern Territory (PDF)
Alpinia sanderae Ornamentals for the Texas Gulf Coast (Texas A&M University)
Alpinia purpurata (pictures of some variants) Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Plant Profile, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA (PDF)
Ginger, Shell Ginger, Torch Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet, Alpinia purpurata) Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality. University of California, Davis. USA (PDF)
Alpinia purpurata College of Micronesia-FSM (Federated States of Micronesia)
Ornamental Ginger, Red and Pink Article about Alpinia purpurata. University of Hawaii at Manoa (PDF)
Alpinia purpurata 'Federation Lady' Australian National Botanic Gardens
Red Ginger Alpinia purpurata. Flowers of India
Snap Ginger Alpinia calcarata. Flowers of India
Alpinia galanga (Galangal) Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization
Costus
Native Crepe Ginger (Costus potierae) At the "Grow Me Instead" website (an Australian website informing gardeners about safer alternatives to invasive ornamentals)
Costus barbatus 'Red Tower' The Florez Nursery blog, NSW
Costus productus,Spiral Ginger The Florez Nursery blog, NSW
Costus igneus, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag Factsheet, University of Florida, USA
Costus speciosus 'Variegatus', Variegated Crepe Ginger Factsheet, University of Florida, USA
Grow the Crepe Ginger Green Culture Singapore (PDF)
Costus woodsonii (Red Button Ginger) Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Curcuma
Cape York Lily (Curcuma australasica) At the "Grow Me Instead" website (an Australian website informing gardeners about safer alternatives to invasive ornamentals)
Curcuma australasica The Taxonomy Research & Information Network
Curcuma domestica (Turmeric) University of Oklahoma
Curcuma alismatifolia Thai Horticulture
Curcuma longa turmeric Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database, Bishop Museum
Siam Tulips Selections and hybrids of Curcuma alismatifolia. Center for Tropical Plant Conservation, Florida
Curcuma Alismatifolia Siam Tulip. Lee County Extension, Florida (PDF)
Curcuma longa The Taxonomy Research & Information Network
Dichorisandra
Blue Ginger Dichorisandra thrysiflora At the "Grow Me Instead" website, Australia
Blue-Ginger Dichorisandra thyrsiflora Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Blue Ginger The Florez Nursery blog, NSW
The "Fake" Ginger Plant... (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) Gardening with Wilson, Singapore
Etlingera
Etlingera elatior cv Red Torch The Florez Nursery blog, NSW
Etlingera australasica The Taxonomy Research & Information Network
Torch Ginger Etlingera elatior. Flowers of India
Light up your Garden with a Torch Ginger! Green Culture Singapore (PDF)
Torch Ginger (Etilngera Elatior) Lee County Extension, Florida
Elettaria
Elettaria cardamomum Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization
Globba
Dancing Girls Perform Easily In Mississippi (Globba marantina) Office of Agricultural Communications Mississippi State University
Globba winitii Thai Horticulture
Heliconia
Heliconia Struggle Experiences growing heliconias in the Brisbane area shared at the SubTropical Queensland Open Garden blog
Heliconia.org Heliconia Society International
The Heliconias Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Barbados
Heliconia basics Green Culture Singapore
Heliconias: Much more than just Parrots and Lobster Claws University of Florida (PDF)
Heliconias Impart a Tropical Look Hendry County Extension Service, Univ Florida
The Genus Heliconia Linnaeus in Photos Lyon Arboretum
HSI Conference 2004 links to more photos of gingers and heliconias
Heliconia rostrata Lobster Claw. University of Florida (PDF)
Lobster Claw Heliconia rostrata. Flowers of India
Heliconia chartacea 'Sexy Pink' At the "Grow Me Instead" website, Australia
Caribbean Heliconia Heliconia caribea 'Red' At the "Grow Me Instead" website, Australia
Heliconia caribaea Caribbaean Heliconia, Wild Plantain. University of Florida (PDF)
Heliconia longissima Nice pic in "Plumerias' photos" collection
Heliconia indica Lam. in: Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability United Nations University Press
Heliconia Golden Torch Heliconia psittacorum x spathocircinata. Flowers of India
Heliconia psittacorum At the "Grow Me Instead" website (an Australian website informing gardeners about invasive plants)
Parakeet Flower Heliconia psittacorum. Flowers of India
Method of application affects effectiveness of cytokinin in inducing bud break on heliconia rhizomes University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
Visual Symptoms of Plant Nutrient Deficiencies in Nursery and Landscape Plants University of Hawaii at Manoa (Picture of iron deficiency in Psittacorum)
Heliconia setting seeds in Singapore Gardening with Wilson, Singapore
The smallest Heliconia Gardening with Wilson, Singapore
Zingiber
Zingiber officinale Missouri Botanical Garden
Ever wondered how the Ginger's flower looks like? (Zingiber officinale) Gardening with Wilson, Singapore
Zingiber zerumbet The Taxonomy Research & Information Network
Zingiber zerumbet, Pine Cone Ginger, Pine Cone Lily Factsheet, University of Florida, USA
Zingiber zerumbet Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database, Bishop Museum
Awapuhi kuahiwi (Zingiber zerumbet) Kauai Community College, Hawaii
Botany, Taxonomy, Environment
Diversity, Distribution and Some Notes on Gingers of Sayap-Kinabalu Park, Sabah (Malaysia) by Halijah Ibrahim. ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, June 1998 (PDF)
Zingiberaceous species of Tawau Hills Park, Sabah (Malaysia) by Halijah Ibrahim. from ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, January - February 1999 (PDF)
Wild Ginger Notes about gingers by World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia
Older News
Ginger and heliconia aphids may or may not be banana risk
The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa is vector of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). DNA analysis of aphids collected from several countries including Australia, showed that aphids from banana are genetically different from apparently similar aphids from heliconia and ginger plants. This has implications for BBTV research as some of the previous work on the aphid may have involved the wrong species (Pentalonia caladii). If it is found that the ginger and heliconia aphids can't transmit the virus, they can be ruled out as a treat to bananas. More at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center website: Identity Theft by Aphids (January 2011)
Three species of ornamental ginger declared weeds in Queensland
Media release from Tim Mulherin (Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland) here: Three Gingers banned in Queensland.
Yellow ginger (Hedychium flavescens) is now a Class 1 weedWhite ginger (Hedychium coronarium) is now a Class 3 weed
Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) is now a Class 3 weed
All are now illegal to sell or trade in Qld, while landowners who have yellow ginger on their properties must eradicate it. More information on declared weeds in Qld, the classification system and your obligations at the Biosecurity Queensland website. (November 2010)