Red Beehive Ginger Plant (Zingiber spectabile)

About the Red Beehive Ginger Plant (Zingiber spectabile)

Red beehive ginger is a red-bracted form of the beehive ginger whose cones colour a rich scarlet to crimson, glowing among the green leaves like lanterns. Each cone is built from rows of cupped, overlapping bracts, just like a beehive, and stands on its own short stalk beneath tall, arching leafy stems. The cones last for many weeks in the garden and are superb cut flowers. It is a tropical forest plant that thrives in the warmth and humidity of southeastern Mexico. 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 partial shade with steady moisture and high humidity; cut spent stems at the base. 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

Zingiber spectabile (red-bracted form)

Family

Zingiberaceae

Native to

Malaysia and Thailand (Malay Peninsula)

Mature height

1.5–2.5 m

Plant spacing

1.5 m

Time to first flowers

1.5–2 years

Light

Sun to part shade

Water

High, keep moist

Cold tolerance

down to 5 °C

Best climates

Humid tropics

Grows in a pot

Yes

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas