Costus Speciosus 15 Seeds, Cheilocostus Speciosus Hardy Crepe Spiral Ginger
Costus Speciosus
Also known as: Cheilocostus speciosus, Crepe Spiral Ginger
Here is a tall and dramatic landscape plant with large dark green leaves arranged on the stalk in a spiral staircase fashion, which gives it a distinctive difference from the more common ginger. It is native to the Malay Peninsula of Southeast Asia, but it has naturalized in some tropical areas, including Hawaii.
The flowers appear in late summer or early fall, and are quite unusual looking. They form on red 4 in (10.2 cm) cone-shaped bracts, with several 2 in (5 cm) pure white crinkled flowers protruding from each cone. The flowers look like crepe paper, thus the common name of crepe ginger. After the flowers fade away, the attractive red cone-shaped bracts remain.
This Costus can grow to 10 ft (3.1 m) tall in frost-free areas, but typically grows to about 6 ft (1.8 m) tall in cooler regions where it is root hardy but dies back in winter. Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 - 12. This is the most cold-hardy of the spiral gingers, and has been tested and proven root hardy down to 0°F (-17.8°C). It prefers part sun but will grow in full sun if it gets plenty of moisture. Regular watering requirements but will rot in standing water.
Many gingers have culinary or medicinal uses. This species is not commonly used in western cultures, but the rhizome has been used in India and Southeast Asia to treat boils, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, vertigo, ear, eye, and nose pain, and to stop vomiting.
This offer is for 15 seeds.
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