S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing
Pinstripe Ginger
For the Northeast Florida Jacksonville
| St. Augustine area Landscapes
( Alpinia formosana ‘ Pinstripe’)
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Origins:
– These gorgeous semi tropical perennial plants are native to Polynesia and tropical portions of Asia.
Alpinia formosana is touted to be foliage hardy in zone 9-11 an root hardy to zone 8 making them an excellent choice for shady areas of the North Florida, Jacksonville and St. Augustine gardens and landscapes.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Preferred Exposure:
– Variegated Pinstripe Ginger should be planted into a shaded area of your North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Foliage:
– Upright stalks of shiny foliage are gently accented with white pin stripes.
– Foliage is hardy into the 20’s on an established plant, and roots are hardy to around 10 degrees.
Depending on the planting location and winter temperatures, foliage may go dormant and come back rapidly the following spring. Protection from larger trees or nearby buildings can help plants remain evergreen in the roughest of winters here in North Florida. The same plant planted and purchased at the same time even 30 feet away may behave differently in the winter.
Here in my North Florida garden, in the Switzerland area of St. Johns 
county, I have them planted under a large Oak tree and they remain evergreen for me during the few winters that I have had them so far with little foliage damage. But if your’s get some foliage damage, trim it off in the spring and they will regrow quickly, Southern Living Garden Book indicates they are root hardy down to about 10 degrees, the more widely known variegated shell ginger is root hardy to 15 degrees.
– Gingers are a rhizomatous perennial plant, that is they grow and spread from underground rhizomes ( thick stem like roots, very similar to the more familiar Iris family of plants ) and form clumps of foliage. They can be dug and divided and replanted with just the rhizome or both rhizome and foliage stalks successfully into other garden locations with ease.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:
– Variegated Pinstripe Ginger is tolerant of a wide range of soil components and growing conditions, although they will be most at home with adequate moisture, good drainage after heavy rains, and rich fertile soils.
– Salt tolerance is low.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Size Variance:
– The foliage on the Variegated Pinstripe Ginger plant may reach 4-6 ft high and around 4 ft wide depending on soil and garden setting.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Growth Habit:
– Clumping perennial rhizomes forms an attractive, upright mound of gently arching foliage.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Growth Rate:
– Fast growing Ginger selection will reach maturity in an ideal garden location in its second to third season in the ground. Expect your newly planted Alpinia formosana plants to have doubled in size after their first
summer in the ground and to regrow quickly the following season if foliage goes dormant from winter.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Bloom:
– Although the foliage of these showy garden plants tend to be the main attraction, I really was shocked at how pretty the blooms were on the pinstripe ginger in my home garden. I’ve never been a fan of the blooms on the
more widely planted shell ginger so I was a bit shocked to see how much I loved the blooms of this Alpinia ginger! Maybe it is the fact that it was standing erect See for yourself, a picture is worth a thousand words!
– Blooms are born in the summer on plants generally after their second season in the landscape usually in May to June once the plant has established itself.
Variegated Pinstripe Ginger Water Requirements:
– 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. Use
supplemental irrigation bi-weekly when planted in drier soil situations.
Best Uses For Variegated Pinstripe Ginger in the Jacksonville | St. Augustine Area Landscapes :
– Variegated Pinstripe Ginger is a great easy care low maintenance addition to just about any landscape.
– Plant them as the backdrop to a mixed perennial border for added tropical appeal.
– Gently variegated foliage will add interest to the shaded garden areas of your landscape.
– Alpinia formosana makes a great potted plant accent for a porch or patio, and does well indoors.
Care of Variegated Pinstripe Ginger in the North Florida Landscape:
– Low care landscape pant selection in 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.
– Ginger 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.