Alpinia Sanderae
Syn. Alpinia vittata, Alpinia albo-lineata, Alpinia oceanica, Alpinia tricolor, Guillainia vittata

Variegated ginger • Variegated ginger
Garden ginger

Cultivated for its magnificent foliage

French names: Alpinia variegated, variegated ginger, ornamental ginger
English names: Ornamental ginger, marble ginger, striped leaf ginger, sander's ginger

FAMILY

ZINGIBERACEAE

ETYMOLOGY

Alpinia comes from the name of the 16th century Italian botanist, Prospero Alpino.
Vittata means "stripes, longitudinal bands", as on the leaves.
Sanderae for HFC Sander, famous horticulturist.

ORIGIN

Solomon Islands.

HABITAT

Cultivated.

DESCRIPTION

Perennial rhizomatous grass with leafy stems of the ginger family that can reach 1.50m in height. The leaves are green with white and cream stripes. The inflorescences (15cm) are nodding with green bracts tinged with pink. From their armpits come out small green flowers 2cm long.

Fruit is very rare.

Flowering takes place all year round in the tropics, but mainly in summer in a temperate climate, starting one year after planting.

It is mainly cultivated for its magnificent foliage.

NEEDS

Watering: abundant except in winter in temperate climates.

Add regular fertilizer or compost.

Any type of soil , preferably fertile, fresh and draining.

Exposure: partial shade.

Hardiness: -7°C

MULTIPLICATION

Hot sowing (20°C) and separation of rhizomes .

The most used method is the separation of rhizomes because sowing takes longer.

Cut the rhizomes with a clean, disinfected knife or secateurs to obtain plants with a stem and at least one sucker. Soak them in water to facilitate cleaning. Cut the leaves and roots. Remove all the soil and check if the rhizomes are healthy (remove, if necessary, the affected parts). If you wish, you can disinfect it. Let it 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 partial shade, 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.

Its foliage is an important decorative element both in the garden and in a greenhouse, in the ground or in a jar of sufficient size (minimum 40cm deep with pebbles at the bottom) for it to develop its powerful rhizomes.

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

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.

PARASITES AND DISEASES

Ornamental ginger does not fear any disease but it is subject to nematodes and mealybugs (which often lead to the development of sooty mold).

USES

MEDICINAL USE

Any.

ORNAMENTAL USE

Cultivated for ornament in hedges or as an isolated subject for variegated foliage.

FOOD USE