Alpinia zerumbet Variegata

The Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' is a very beautiful selection of shell ginger, a highly cultivated plant in tropical and subtropical gardens for its foliage and spectacular flowers. 'Variegata' is distinguished from the type by its variegated foliage of green, yellow, and cream, which is particularly ornamental, as well as its more modest size. This perennial, which may resemble a canna, forms a clump of large, upright leaves from which occasionally emerge some stunning clusters of flowers, ranging from ivory white to barely pink, opening up to a sparkling throat of yellow and bright orange. Despite its origins and highly exotic appearance, the shell ginger is capable of surviving short freezes around -8°C, under a good protective mulch. It is easy to grow, like many gingers, in partial shade, in a cool and well-drained soil, both in the ground and in pots.

Native to Southeast Asia, more specifically to an Indo-Malayan region including northeastern India, Myanmar, and Indochina, Alpinia zerumbet (synonym Alpinia nutans, A. speciosa) is a rhizomatous perennial plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Locally, the plant carries evocative names such as 'flower of my soul', 'tears of the virgin', and 'flower of paradise'. In suitable climates, it has persistent vegetation, but in climates that are subject to frost, it is an annual when grown in the ground. It generally emerges from the ground in April and disappears in autumn. At maturity, a clump of Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' will measure approximately 60 cm (24in) in all directions. The fleshy and underground rhizome produces each year fuzzy pseudo-stems, which are actually tightly rolled leaves, as in cannas or banana plants. The large, narrow but thick leaves form two rows. In the 'Variegata' variety, they are smaller than in the species. Their colour, very bright, is a fairly light green irregularly streaked with yellow and very pale yellow to cream-white. The dense clump expands year after year, but it flowers quite rarely, as our warm season is often insufficient to induce flowering. The drooping terminal clusters of inflorescences appear randomly from spring to autumn. They bear 20 to 30 fragrant flowers, which are ivory white to pale yellow when in bud, opening successively into white to very pale pink flowers, displaying a yellow throat speckled with orange or red. They are followed by the formation of round and striated orange fruits.

The Variegated Shell Ginger is ideal for adding a beautiful exotic and lush touch to the garden, in a not too harsh climate. Planted in partial shade, alongside Hedychium and Colocasia, the effect of being transported to another place will be guaranteed! It will also find its place in a large pot on the terrace, to be stored in cold regions. This Alpinia, which is evergreen in its native lands, is also an excellent decorative plant for a conservatory, all year round. Its fragrant flowers, when they decide to show themselves, are splendid in bouquets. Remember to plant it in a partially shaded area and in a soil that remains moist.

Properties: in the West Indies, Alpinia zerumbet is sometimes called "atoumo", a contraction of "à tous maux" (to all ills), or "guérit-tout" (heals-all). This medicinal plant is indeed widely used by local populations in traditional medicine to treat numerous ailments.