Indian Head Ginger Plant (Costus spicatus)

About the Indian Head Ginger Plant (Costus spicatus)

Indian head ginger is a Caribbean spiral ginger whose stems carry glossy, spirally arranged leaves and end in a firm, cylindrical cone of overlapping bright red bracts. From the cone peek tubular orange-red flowers, a favourite of hummingbirds. The cones keep their colour for weeks and grow longer as the season goes on, giving a long display in the garden and in arrangements. It is compact, adaptable and easy, a cheerful choice for beds, borders and pots in warm gardens. Available as a rhizome, a potted young plant or a flowering-size clump.

How to Care for It

To plant a rhizome, lay it horizontally 3–5 cm deep in loose, compost-rich, well-drained soil with the buds facing up, water once and keep it barely moist until shoots appear; too much water before then can rot it. Grow in sun to partial shade with regular water; it can also be propagated from stem cuttings laid on moist soil. Feed monthly while growing and mulch to keep the roots cool and moist.

Sculptural flowers, fragrant blooms and edible rhizomes. Our tropical gingers include beehive ginger (awapuhi) in golden, red, pink and chocolate, shampoo ginger, red and pink torch ginger, red ginger, shell and butterfly ginger, plus culinary ginger and turmeric. Sold as rhizomes, potted plants or flowering clumps.

Growing Profile

Botanical name

Costus spicatus

Family

Costaceae

Native to

The Caribbean (Lesser Antilles and Hispaniola)

Mature height

1–2 m

Plant spacing

1 m

Time to first flowers

1–1.5 years

Light

Sun to part shade

Water

High, keep moist

Cold tolerance

down to 5 °C

Best climates

Humid tropics, Dry tropics

Grows in a pot

Yes

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas