Pink Diamond Ornamental Ginger

Pink Diamond Ornamental Ginger (Curcuma 'Pink Diamond') is a showy, compact ginger with layered, tulip-like flowers in shades of pink tipped with olive green. It grows to about 50cm tall and wide, and the blooms appear from December through to April, lasting up to two months on the plant. The leaves often carry a burgundy stripe down the centre, so the plant looks good between flowers too.

Why you'll love it

• Layered, tulip-like blooms. Pink petals tipped with olive green stack up the flower head, giving it a distinct look among the curcumas.
• A summer-to-autumn show. Flowers appear from December through to April, and each one stays on the plant for up to two months.
• Striped foliage. A burgundy stripe down the centre of the leaves adds interest when the plant is not in flower.
• Small and showy. At up to 50cm tall and wide it suits borders, pots and gaps in tropical beds.
• Subtropical style. It adds a tropical feel to gardens in warm climates and to patios elsewhere.

Where it works best

Sheltered garden borders. Plant 40cm apart in a sunny to partly shaded bed protected from wind. In a drift the olive-tipped pink blooms read as a single swathe of colour.

Patio pots. A deep pot gives the rhizomes room, and you can move it to the best spot for display or to shelter from frost.

Under tall plants. It slots in beneath palms and tall shrubs in areas of dappled light, where its pale blooms catch the eye.

Growing Pink Diamond Ornamental Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to part shade in a sheltered position, protected from wind and frost. It is best suited to tropical and subtropical gardens, and can be grown as a summer plant in warm temperate ones. Where frost is likely, grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter.

Soil. Free-draining soil. Mulch after planting to hold moisture around the rhizomes.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, which usually takes around 12 weeks, and keep the water up in dry periods. Give a liquid feed when the first new shoots show in spring.

Pruning. It dies back in winter. Leave the untidy leaves in place until they have completely browned, so the rhizome can draw back their nutrients for next season.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pink Diamond Ornamental Ginger as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. This is a seasonal line from our grower and the tube is often unavailable. When it shows as sold out, the grower has none, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back. A young plant starts small and builds a clump that flowers as it fills out.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Ornamental gingers
• Plants for subtropical climates
• Plants for partial shade
• Hardy tropical plants that handle wind and heat

Common questions

When does it flower?

From December through to April, and each flower head can last up to two months on the plant.

What colour are the true flowers?

The small true flowers tucked inside each petal are white. The pink petals are bracts, and they are what gives the plant its colour.

Does it need protection from wind and frost?

Yes. Grow it in a sheltered position, and in frosty districts keep it in a pot that can move under cover for winter.