Alpinia purpurata
Syn. Alpinia grandis, Guillainia novo-ebudica, Guillainia purpurata

French names:  Red Alpinia, Pink Alpinia, White Alpinia, Purple Alpinia, Alpine Alpinia, Red Ginger, Red Lavender, Pink Lavender, Ornamental Ginger, Indian Galangal
Creole names:  Lavender wouj, lavender wòz, white lavender, galangal
English names:  Red ginger, pink, red, white, cone ginger, jungle queen, jungle king, tahitian ginger, ostrich plume, red ginger lily,
Spanish names:  Gengibre rojo,

Other names: Opuhi, opuhi uteute, sari sakai viro, sari longoza, sari tsingizo masera, scharlochrote

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FAMILY

ZINGIBERACEAE

ETYMOLOGY

Alpinia comes from the name of the 16th century Italian botanist, Prospero Alpino.
Purpurata , in Latin, means "bloody, purplish, purple", in relation to the color of the flowers and rhizomes of the most common cultivar.

ORIGIN

Melanesia.

HABITAT

Cultivated and wild in humid and semi-shaded tropical places, up to 800m altitude.

DESCRIPTION

Alpinia is a fast-growing perennial, rhizomatous herbaceous plant, 2-3m tall.

Its port is in an erect tuft.

The leaves are glossy green, broad, alternate, lanceolate, shortly petiolate and 30-80cm long.

The inflorescence rises at the end of the stem. It has cartilaginous bracts of 3-4cm long persisting. They can measure more than 30cm long.

The flowers are small, white, often aborted and inconspicuous.

The fruit , very rare, is a green then red spherical capsule, measuring 3cm and dehiscing by 3 valves.

The rhizomes are very fragrant.

It is highly valued for its continuous flowering. There are three main varieties (red, pink and white).

NEEDS

Abundant watering (avoid overwatering) except in winter in temperate climates.

Add regular fertilizer or compost.

Any type of soil , preferably fertile and fresh.

A full sun exposure limits the height, otherwise partial shade is perfect.

Hardiness -1°C, the ideal temperature is between 15 and 24°C

MULTIPLICATION

Hot sowing (20°C), separation of rhizomes or planting of inflorescences.

The most used method is the separation of rhizomes. Seeds are extremely rare, and seedlings that develop in inflorescences will not flower for 2-3 years (but are free from nematodes).

- Cut the rhizomes using a clean, disinfected knife or secateurs to obtain plants with a stem and at least one shoot. Soak them in water to facilitate cleaning. Cut the leaves and roots. Remove all the soil and check if the rhizomes are healthy (remove affected parts if necessary). If you wish, you can disinfect it. Leave to dry for a few days to promote healing.

- Prepare a pot with a 50/50 mix of soil and compost (or potting soil if you can't get compost). You can add a little perlite and mycorrhizae and put pebbles at the bottom if you put it in a cup.

- Plant the rhizome (you can praline it beforehand), start green at the top, do not cut the stem, it is a reserve for the regrowth of the plant. Do not overwater at first to avoid rot. Do not fertilize until the plant has developed.

- Place your pots in a bright place with an ambient temperature of 15°C minimum with good humidity.

CULTURE AND MAINTENANCE

The culture is easy from a rhizome, this plant will grow in full sun, even on poor but humid soil and sheltered from the wind.

Being quite water-intensive, a supply of nutrients such as manure or well-decomposed compost will, of course, guarantee vigorous growth and abundant flowering.

It can also settle for a location in partial shade but will then be less floriferous, its foliage always remaining an important decorative element both in the garden and in a greenhouse, in the ground or in a jar of sufficient size (minimum 40cm in height). depth with pebbles at the bottom) so that it develops its powerful rhizomes there.

Planting space , 2m. Density, 2000 plants per Ha.

Once developed, the plant can fill 5m2. 

Possibilities of culture in open ground in the south of France.

Repot or divide when the rhizomes have filled the pot or become too overgrown, preferably in the spring.

Cut faded leaves and flowers only when they are dry.

Water abundantly in the dry season and in summer.

In winter, in temperate countries, cover the plant with a winter veil, mulch or bring it in if it is in a pot. The rhizome can also be kept indoors in vermiculite.

Marketable flowers are obtained at the end of the 1st year. The culture can remain in place for more than 10 years.

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PARASITES AND DISEASES

The Alpinias are not afraid of any disease but it is subject to  nematodes, aphids (green and black), lenticular and white scale insects (which often cause drying out and development of waxy sooty mold) and anthracnose.

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USES
 

MEDICINAL USE

Any.

ORNAMENTAL USE
Plant in hedges, in beds or in pots.

FOOD USE

At none .

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OTHER USES

The main use is ornamental and cut flowers (hold 2-3 weeks in vase, mist from time to time).  

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SOURCES

- Illustrated flora of the phanerogams of Guadeloupe & Martinique - Jacques Fournet - Ed Gondwana, CIRAD -  T2 P2027

- Wild and acclimatized tropical plants - Jens G. Rohwer - Ed Delachaux and Niestlé -P224

- The great Larousse of 15,000 garden plants & flowers - Ed. Larousse - P97

- Guide to flowering, 100 plants from the West Indies - J-Jacques Jérémie - AVEG - P43

- Floral crops brochure - Guadeloupe Chamber of Agriculture - P15

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