Red Back Ginger

Red Back Ginger (Alpinia caerulea) is an eastern Australian rainforest ginger that solves the hardest brief in gardening: lush, tropical looking foliage in real shade. It forms an upright clump about 2m tall and 1.5m wide, with broad glossy leaves backed in deep red, white flowers in the warmer months and bright blue berries after them. The berries and the young stem bases are both edible, and the plant is safe around pets.

Why you'll love it

• It thrives where most plants sulk. A natural understorey plant, it is happy in dry shade under established trees and along the dark side of the house.
• Bush tucker you will actually use. The blue berries have a light ginger tang and the tender young stem bases are edible too.
• Safe for cats and dogs. A pet friendly plant for family gardens.
• Handles wet feet. Boggy corners and slow draining beds that kill most shrubs suit it fine.
• Low maintenance by nature. No staking, no spraying, no regular pruning. It looks after itself.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Set plants 1m apart for a lush understorey that closes over within a couple of seasons, the most convincing way to green out large shaded areas.

Feature clumps and borders. A single established clump reads as a bold foliage feature, and a row along a shaded path or fence line makes a soft, arching border.

Pots and containers. It grows well in a large pot on a shaded patio or balcony.

Growing Red Back Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled light to full shade is ideal, with morning sun tolerated where the soil stays moist. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes only light frost, so in cooler districts plant it under an evergreen canopy or in a pot you can shift in winter.

Soil. Moist soil enriched with compost is the sweet spot, though it tolerates heavy and poorly drained ground better than almost any other foliage plant.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone moist through the first summer. Established clumps ride out normal dry spells in shade, and a native slow release fertiliser each spring keeps the foliage deep green.

Pruning. Cut spent or tatty canes off at ground level whenever you notice them. New canes rise from the base and keep the clump fresh.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow Red Back Ginger as tube stock, in 140mm pots sold in packs of 10, and in 200mm pots sold in packs of 6. Tubes establish quickly and are the economical choice for mass planting, while the potted packs give instant presence. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then fresh canes once the roots take hold in warm weather.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our full Australian native range
• Designing a tropical garden that looks lush all year
• Pair it with Variegated Shell Ginger
• More plants for full shade

Common questions

Can you really eat it?

Yes. The blue berries are a traditional bush food with a mild ginger flavour, and the young stem bases are edible as well. It is one of the easiest bush tucker plants to grow.

How much shade does it handle?

Deep shade is fine, including the difficult dry shade under established trees once the plant has settled in. Foliage stays larger and glossier in shade than in sun.

Will frost kill it?

It tolerates light frost only. In frost prone gardens, plant it under a tree canopy or against a warm wall, and expect some leaf burn after cold snaps, which the clump grows through in spring.

How far apart should I plant it?

One metre apart for a massed understorey effect. At that spacing the clumps meet within about two growing seasons while each plant still has room to develop.

Is it safe for pets?

Yes. Red Back Ginger is pet friendly, a sound choice for gardens shared with dogs and cats.