Darcyi Shampoo Ginger

Darcyi Shampoo Ginger (Zingiber zerumbet 'Darcyi') is the variegated form of shampoo ginger, and it is grown for the foliage first: long arching leaves boldly striped in cream against mid green, on canes reaching about 1.5m tall and 1.2m wide. Through summer it sends up green cones from the base that flush deep red as they mature, with small cream flowers emerging from between the bracts. In a shaded tropical bed it does more work than almost anything else at the same price.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that lights up shade. The cream striping reads as brightness in a dim bed, where plain green plants simply disappear.
• Cones as a second act. Red flushed cones sit at ground level through the warm months and hold their colour for weeks.
• Thrives where drainage is poor. It tolerates wet feet and heat, so the damp shaded corner that defeats other plants suits it.
• Very little maintenance. Cut back the spent canes once a year and it looks after itself.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 1m apart for a lush block of striped foliage. At that spacing the clumps merge into a continuous stand within two seasons.

Borders and shaded beds. The upright, arching habit layers well in front of taller palms and behind low groundcover.

Pots and courtyards. A 400mm or larger pot suits a single clump. Container growing also lets cool climate gardeners move it under cover for winter.

Growing Darcyi Shampoo Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade is ideal; full sun bleaches and scorches the variegation. It is frost tender and suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. In the cooler end of that range it dies back over winter and reshoots in spring, which is normal, not a failure. Cool temperate and frost prone gardens should treat it as a potted plant that overwinters under cover.

Soil. Rich, organic and moisture holding. Work compost and aged manure through the bed before planting, then mulch 75mm deep to keep the rhizomes cool and damp.

Water and feed. Water generously through the growing season, easing right back once the foliage dies down in cooler areas. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring as new shoots appear, and again in midsummer.

Pruning. Cut old canes to the ground once they have browned off, either at the end of the season or in early spring. Clumps thicken over time and can be lifted and divided every few years to spread them further.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as a pack of three 250mm plants, which is the right quantity for a small mass planting at 1m spacing or for a group in a wide pot. Each is an established clump rather than a single cane, so it makes an immediate impression once it is in the ground.

If it arrives during the cooler months it may be dormant or cut back, with little top growth to look at. That is the plant's normal cycle and it reshoots strongly in spring. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider tropical plant collection.
• See other plants with variegated foliage.
• Read about designing a tropical garden that stays lush.
• Compare plants for partial shade.

Common questions

Why has it disappeared over winter?

In warm temperate and cooler subtropical gardens it dies back to the rhizome and returns in spring. Leave the clump undisturbed, ease off the watering and wait for the new shoots.

How far apart should I plant them?

One metre apart for a mass planting. The clumps spread by rhizome and will knit together, so closer spacing only makes dividing them harder later.

Where does the name come from?

The mature cones of shampoo ginger hold an aromatic liquid, which is the origin of the common name. This selection is grown as an ornamental for its striped foliage and coloured cones.