S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing Ginger
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam
Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip
in the Northeast Florida Landscape
Ginger
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam
Sparkling’ / Siam Tulip Origins:
– Another member of the Zingiberaceae family plant that is native to its tropical Loas, Thailand and Cambodia.
Curcuma’s are hardy perennial plants that grow from underground rhizomes and are surprisingly easy to grow!
Sun Exposure of the Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’ / Siam Tulip:
– Plant your Hidden Ginger / Curcuma plants in a shady garden location in the Northeast Florida landscape. Or use as an indoor plant!
Foliage of the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip:
– Foliage of the Curcuma alismatifolia is a soft subtle green with leaves that are large and broad adding a tropical feel to the landscape.
The leaves emerge on stalks (also known as a pseudostem, much like banana plants do) from underground rhizomes and emerge each summer to take their place just as the flowers of spring begin to decline from the heat.
– Each leaf can be up to 18 inches in length and 6 inches in width making it a bold tropical foliage plant that is perfect for our Jacksonville and St. Augustine gardens!
– Foliage is winter dormant and emerges late in the spring or early summer.
Soil Preferences of the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam
Sparkling’ Siam Tulip | Salt tolerance:
– Curcuma’s prefer moist garden locations during the growing season, amend generously with compost if
planting in dryer or sandy soil land capes to help the soil retain moisture.
– I find curcuma to tolerate both my sandy soil dry garden and my mothers constantly moist soil garden equally well. Although they do tend to multiply quicker in her wetter garden areas. I do however try to remember to give my plants a healthy shovel full of garden compost each summer as they emerge from the ground. So soil amendment when planting with compost is advised for our sandier soil Northeast Florida gardens.
– Salt tolerance is poor.
Size Variance of the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip:
– Curcuma Ginger plants will grow 2-3 ft high and wide in our Northeast Florida landscapes.
Growth Habit of the Siam Tulip :
– Clumping perennial rhizomes forms an attractive, strongly upright mound of gently arching foliage.
Growth Rate of the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip:
– Moderately fast growing Ginger selection, expect them to reach full size potential within their third growing season in the landscape when planted into moist shady garden areas.
– Dig and divide every 5 years of so for best results.
Blooms on the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip Plant:
– Unlike the closely related Curcuma petiolata Hidden Ginger the Curcuma alismatifolia holds its blooms high on the plant for you to view! Blooms last for months on the plants or you can also trim them off at the base of the stem and bring them indoors for beautiful long lasting floral arrangements!
– Blooms are born in the late summer and fall and emerge from bracts at the base of the flower spikes. The top bracts are mostly white and green striped adding interest while the base of the flower stalk is a soft green color and the florets that emerge from this green area are a lovely lavender purple color.
Water Requirements of the
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam Sparkling’
/ Siam Tulip Plant:
– Moist soils during the growing season and drier soils during the winter dormant months. Although much more durable once established in the landscape, regular water is necessary to get the plant rooted and growing
on its own after being planted in the ground from an S & J Nursery container. Amend the soil generously when planting and use supplemental irrigation through a professionally designed irrigation system or hand water with a hose bi-weekly when planted in drier soil situations.
Best Uses For Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam
Sparkling’ / Siam Tulip in the Jacksonville | St. Augustine Area Landscapes :
– Deer risistant foliage!
– Use as an indoor house plant!
– Gorgeous massed at the edge of wooded areas or under larger canopy trees.
– Perfect backdrop plant for lower growing perennial plantings for the shaded garden..
Care of
Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Siam
Sparkling’ / Siam Tulip in the North Florida Landscape:
– Low care landscape pant selection when planted into rich soils. Amend soil generously with compost or cow manure when planting for best results.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from an S & J Nursery container.
– Curcuma plants will need good water during the establishment period and supplemental irrigation during dry spells or particularly hot dry summers, especially when planted into sandier soils.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite or Green Edge Fertilizer and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food or 10-10-10.