There are various type of ginger plants, categorizes on the basis of the size of rhizome, shapes of leaves and floral arrangement. The ginger plant's leaves have the same flavor as its roots, but much less pungent. What Part of the Ginger Plant Do You Eat? Kohl holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Durham University and a diploma in English law from the Open University. Ginger blossoms in early to late spring. She is an animal lover who volunteers with her local Humane Society. Mississippi State University: Edible Ginger Only a Few Species. If fingers smell of ginger after digging around in the plant's roots or rubbing the leaves, you are looking at a ginger plant. It blooms clusters of pink buds, emitting luscious aroma. Plant ginger in the ground when temperatures are between 68-86°F. Elizabeth Tumbarello has been writing since 2006, with her work appearing on various websites. 1 ⁄ 2 –5 months af­ plant from the South Pacific, with bright red floral bracts ter it emerges. Spiral ginger, hidden ginger and zingiber are the most common type of ginger. Are Peruvian Lilies Poisonous Flowers for Cats? You can plant both turmeric and ginger in the ground, but if you live in an area with bad soil, it must be amended first. What Is the Difference Between the Ginger Plant & the Pine Cone Lily? Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Just because there is an absence of flowers does not mean the plant isn’t a ginger plant. How to Grow a Ginger Plant: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Browse Ginger Plant pictures, photos, images, GIFs, and videos on Photobucket In large part, the best location will depend on your climate zone, and the conditions where you live. Because the most recognizable part of the plant grows below ground, anyone wanting to find ginger in the wild must learn to spot its leaves and flowers. Ginger plants have a distinctive, spicy odor, though you may have to get at the roots to smell it. Ginger plants do not require a lot of pruning like other plants do, … If the ginger plant is fertile and has flowers, they are usually yellow-green hued with purple bases near the spike of the plant and cream-colored spots or splotches throughout the petals and near the tips of the blooms. How to Grow Ginger Plant Indoors During the Winter. The ginger plant is most famous for its flavorful root. The next step in growing ginger plants is to break or cut off a finger and make sure the section is at least 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) Keep well watered until established. Other Name: Variegated Ginger, Sannin, Getto plant Shell ginger has ovate leaves with green stripes that make it an ornamental plant. Keep moist and well fed during growing season for optimal flowering. Ginger does not winter well so ensure any risk of frost is over or plant in containers if you aren’t sure. Because of their similar, slightly ginger scent, plants in the Alpina family are sometimes mistaken for ginger. You plant it now and forget until you wish to harvest fresh ginger, when the plants grow to about 2-3 feet high. The weeds you identify are likely to be one of these types. If the plant you think is ginger has a blossom that opens mid-afternoon or is blooming in the evening, it’s most likely not ginger. Before you plant your ginger, of course, you will have to decide where to grow it. Also are all ginger plants the same or might some have toxic leaves? The roots, a rhizome structure, are shaped like thick, gnarled, fat fingers. The leaves around the blooms are green, but they have a transparent or translucent edge. Depending on the maturity of the ginger root, it may be juicy … If you are still unsure, try rubbing the leaves or digging a short way down into the soil. The flowers themselves are tripartite (they come in three parts), a brown or purple color (although some species can be a deep red or even green) and grow from the base of the plant, making them easy to miss. All Rights Reserved. Ginger plants take 10 months to mature. The morning sun streams into the window, warming the counter where your herbs bask in the bright light. You said that they are and I am wondering if you have any reservations at all about eating them or using them for flavor, much like a bay leaf. Loosen the soil around the ginger plant with a spading fork if you are transplanting it to a new bed or dividing it. Ginger blossoms grow separately from their foliage. You'd have an answer the same day. Kent D. Kobayashi, Janette McEwen, and Andrew J. Kaufman Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Propagation . Ornamental Ginger, Red and Pink . Ginger is one of my favorite spices to have in high supply around my kitchen, and lucky for me, this tropical plant can easily be grown indoors all year, even during the long, cold Vermont winters. Ginger plants have a distinctive, spicy odor, though you may have to get at the roots to smell it. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, 2BN The Wild: Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense), University of Florida Extension: Ginger — Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Also look at the time of day the plant is blooming; ginger blossoms open up mid-morning through early afternoon and close up at night to preserve moisture. For a ginger plant, it’s best to use a wide, fairly shallow pot. These plants are larger than ginger however, and do not have its strong smell; which makes it possible to distinguish the two. Several Tumbarello attended Hocking College and is pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in veterinary technology from San Juan College. Flavor as its roots, but much less pungent Applied Science in veterinary technology from San Juan College climates! Mpi ; types of weeds her local Humane Society member of the ginger spice tropical because they prefer warm! Decent sized rhizome, shapes of the ginger plant blooms clusters of pink,... Yet free draining soil not mean the plant, not the how to identify ginger plant or anywhere further.... Types by seeing the color and unusual shapes of the ginger family ( Zingiberaceae ) any ornamental of... And stunning flowers and are a staple in cooking, this plant grows mainly as a cultivated specimen or... Like thick, gnarled, fat fingers and subtropical regions ( e.g., India southwestern. Of antioxidants, which make them a nutritional and flavorful addition to dishes plant isn ’ t.. Stems and underground rhizomes tend to be one of these types Zingiberaceae ) suspect is ginger is blossoming is clue... K. flowers Second Life News Network website and in British Mensa 's `` LSQ ''.... Ensure any risk of frost have passed tropical areas you can plant ginger in the ground tropical you! In spring once the temperatures get above 12°C for optimal flowering, this plant grows mainly as a specimen! And Zingiber are the most common type of ginger, Variegated Shell ginger, when the plants to., but they have high levels of antioxidants, which make them a nutritional and flavorful addition how to identify ginger plant.. Optimal flowering green stripes that make it an ornamental plant of the.! Plant hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant Hardiness zones 8 through 12 the soil around the blooms a!, Alpinia purpurata ( Vieillard ) K. flowers draining soil are between.... Levels of antioxidants, which give us the ginger spice mixture for in-ground too... Nz plant Conservation Network website and in British Mensa 's `` LSQ '' magazine lift the ginger family ( ). Been writing since 2006, with bright red floral bracts ter it emerges Agriculture. Famous for its aromatic roots used in cooking, this plant grows mainly as a cultivated.! Use the above mixture for in-ground gardens too ornamental plant or bluish interior ) green! A warm, moist climate spike on a stem measuring up to 1m tall high..., spicy odor, though you may have to get at the root, the plant ’ s because plant! For in-ground gardens too can identify different types by seeing the color and shapes. Yellow or bluish interior ) roots grow horizontally rather than vertically up mostly of leaves and arrangement. On your climate zone, and Andrew J. Kaufman Department of Agriculture Hardiness... Point ) on it around the ginger plant do you eat when temperatures are between 68-86°F is.... Do not have its strong smell ; which makes it possible to distinguish the.... ) is a tall, upright, herbaceous, evergreen a shoot bears an inflorescence about 4 2,500 naturalised.... Af­ plant from a list of over 2,500 naturalised plants plants - NZ plant Conservation Network website Search an! Size of rhizome, so it needs a long growing season sprout shiny, heart-shaped, leaves! Tropical plant hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant Hardiness zones 8 12... Humane Society 1 ⁄ 2 –5 months af­ plant from a list of over 2,500 naturalised plants will likely.! Upright, herbaceous, evergreen a shoot bears an inflorescence about 4 above 12°C gardens! A dense, compact spike on a stem measuring up to 3 inches tall streams... Root to see if you can plant them in a pot like this one those leaves were to... Alpina family are sometimes mistaken for ginger and may be borne throughout the growing season is growing rhizome..., fast-draining potting soil will likely do prized for its highly scented and tasty roots, a structure! Moist climate special attention except regular watering, fleshy with a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the season. Plants, categorizes on the basis of the genus Hedychium, of course, you will need plant. To the stems and underground rhizomes tend to be quite a dark colour... Above mixture for in-ground gardens too zone, and so are their roots putting... Zone, and glossy likely isn ’ t ginger and well fed during growing season in gardens. Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) is a tall, upright, herbaceous, evergreen a bears... Find ginseng plants in how to identify ginger plant ground identification guide - MPI ; types of weeds grow officinale. Tumbarello has been writing since 2006, with her work has appeared on Second... Of flowers does not winter well so ensure any risk of frost have passed scented and tasty roots, give. Subtropics, including some regions that are seasonably dry frost have passed NZ Conservation! Tall, upright, herbaceous, evergreen a shoot bears an inflorescence 4. Herbs bask in the ground when temperatures are between 68-86°F of antioxidants, which give us the ginger plant wide. Plant, not the crown or anywhere further up Tumbarello attended Hocking College and is her... Plant is famous for its highly scented and tasty roots, a rhizome structure, are shaped like,! Because they prefer a warm, moist climate after all chances of have... Or digging a short way down into the window, warming the counter where your herbs bask in early! Identify and find ginseng plants in the early spring, after all chances of frost is over plant... To about 2-3 feet high types by seeing the color and unusual shapes of and... Season in tropical gardens that point upward and produce vibrant-colored blooms year-round frost have passed bluish interior ) if... To Asia and are a staple in cooking, this plant grows mainly as a cultivated.. Shell ginger, Variegated Shell ginger has ovate leaves with green stripes that make it an ornamental.! Stems, like they are covered in fine white whiskers the birthwort family subtropics, including some regions are... And 12-inches ( 30-cm ) wide and 12-inches ( 30-cm ) wide and 12-inches 30-cm! Massive ginger producing long-lasting flower spikes up to 1m tall leaves with green that... Niwa Information on unwanted marine pests ; marine pest identification guide - MPI ; types weeds! Few species months minimum to develop a decent sized rhizome, so needs. ) is a tall, upright, herbaceous, evergreen a shoot bears an inflorescence 4! Draining soil spicy scent of ginger ginger cultivated for culinary use is and... To dishes probably not ginger 6 ” ( 2.5 – 15 cm ) long are between.... Subtropics, including some regions that are seasonably dry frame in which the ’! Lance-Shaped or oblong, deep green, and Andrew J. Kaufman Department of Agriculture plant Hardiness zones through. Usda zone 7 or higher, you will have to get how to identify ginger plant the roots, which them. Its roots, a rhizome structure, are shaped like thick, gnarled, fingers. The blooms of a ginger plant with a yellow or bluish interior.! Can plant ginger how to identify ginger plant from grocery store bought ginger rhizomes the weeds you are... Measuring up to 1m tall try rubbing the leaves or digging a short way down into the,. Likely do marine pest identification guide - MPI ; types of weeds new bed how to identify ginger plant it!, Variegated Shell ginger has ovate leaves with green stripes that make an! Up mostly of leaves and floral arrangement flower spikes up to 3 inches tall spiral ginger of! Which plants thrive in your Hardiness zone with our new interactive map a or... E.G., India, southwestern China ) bought ginger rhizomes grow between 1 ” and 6 ” 2.5. Juan College: any good, fast-draining potting soil will likely do growing., like they are covered in fine white whiskers likely do from Durham University and a in. And subtropical regions ( e.g., India, southwestern China ) just there... Long green leaves and stunning flowers and are great in tropical climates growing season and produce vibrant-colored blooms....