False Cardamom Ginger

False Cardamom Ginger (Alpinia mutica) is the clumping ginger to plant when you want a body of tropical foliage in a hurry. It reaches about 1.8m tall and 1.5m across, holding upright glossy canes all year, and through the warm months it opens white shell flowers with a yellow throat. Orange red seed capsules follow and hold on the stem for weeks.

Why you'll love it

• Lush foliage, fast. It is a fast grower: a tube planted in spring is a recognisable clump by the next summer.
• Two seasons of interest. Fragrant shell flowers first, then bright capsules carrying it into the cooler months.
• It handles wet ground. Wet feet tolerant, which makes it one of the few good looking shrubs for a low spot that stays soggy after rain.
• A clump, not a runner. It expands slowly from the base rather than sending shoots across the garden.

Where it works best

Mass planting and screening. Plant 1m apart for a lush mass planting. At that spacing the canes knit into a soft informal screen of 1.5m to 1.8m, useful for hiding a fence line without the formality of a hedge.

Poolside. Heat and humidity tolerance suit a pool surround, and the leaves are large enough that litter is easy to rake up.

Feature planting. A single clump in a shaded courtyard corner gives height and movement.

Growing False Cardamom Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade suits it best, though it takes more sun if the soil stays moist. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so cool temperate and frost prone districts are out. In warm temperate gardens pick a spot with overhead cover.

Soil. It wants a rich, moisture retentive bed with organic matter dug through, and unlike most shrubs it will sit in ground that stays damp. Mulch 75mm deep to keep the root zone cool.

Water and feed. Keep the water up through spring and summer, especially in the first year. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer.

Pruning. Cut spent canes off at ground level once they have finished, which keeps the clump fresh and lets new shoots through. Lift and divide every three or four years if the middle starts to thin.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock, so this is a young single shoot rather than an established clump. That suits gingers better than it sounds: they establish quickly, and tubes make a mass planting affordable when you need thirty or more.

Plants are packed to travel upright. Expect a month of settling in, then rapid cane growth through the first warm season, with flowers usually from the second summer. 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

• Read our guide to designing a tropical garden.
• Browse the full tropical plant range.
• Compare options for poolside gardens.
• See other plants for mass planting.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

One metre apart for a mass planting or an informal screen. Closer than that and the clumps compete, which thins the canes and reduces flowering.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and a hard frost will cut it to the ground. In marginal areas grow it under a tree canopy or in a large pot that can move under cover for winter.

Does it spread and take over?

It clumps rather than runs, expanding outwards a little each year from the same crown. Divide it every few years and it stays exactly where you planted it.

Can I grow it in full sun?

Yes in the tropics and subtropics, provided the soil never dries out. In hotter, drier gardens the leaf edges scorch, so partial shade gives a better plant.