Pink Shell Ginger

Pink Shell Ginger (Alpinia henryi) is a lush, leafy ginger that grows 1.5m to 2m tall and 1m to 2m wide. The glossy evergreen foliage looks good all year, and pale pink flower buds appear in summer. It is also a little more cold tolerant than most gingers, which helps anyone building a tropical garden without tropical winters.

Why you'll love it

• Glossy evergreen leaves. The foliage is dense and shiny, so the plant fills a shaded corner whether or not it is in flower.
• Pink where others are white. The flower buds are pale pink instead of the usual white, and the plant flowers freely.
• More cold tolerant than other gingers. It still needs frost protection, but it gives you a little more margin than most of its family.
• Sun to shade. It grows in positions from full sun to shade, although flowering is reduced in the shadier sites.
• Good in containers. It suits shaded pots and courtyards as well as garden beds.

Where it works best

Understorey planting. Plant it beneath trees and palms in a tropical or subtropical garden. Set plants 1.5m apart, which suits the 1m to 2m spread and lets the clumps meet into a lush drift.

Shaded borders and fence lines. At up to 2m tall it fills the back of a bed or softens a fence, and a brighter spot will give more flower than deep shade.

Containers. Use a large pot in a shaded courtyard or on a verandah, and water it regularly, because a pot dries out faster than the ground.

Growing Pink Shell Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Subtropical and tropical gardens are ideal. Choose a position from sun to shade, remembering that shade cuts flowering. Protect it from frost. An overnight frost will cut the plant back, but if the soil is well mulched the rootball may survive and shoot again, so in cooler gardens mulch deeply and plant in a sheltered spot.

Soil. Free draining soil enriched with compost and topped with mulch suits it well.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks, and keep watering regularly through dry periods. Fertilise regularly with an organic liquid fertiliser for lush new growth.

Pruning. If the clump becomes untidy, cut the stems to the ground. New shoots replace those removed, so it is hard to go wrong.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pink Shell Ginger as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Expect a young leafy plant that needs time to build into a flowering clump. Plants travel upright, so unpack them promptly and plant out once the chance of frost has passed. Water in well and mulch to keep the roots cool and moist while they settle.

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

• Browse our ornamental gingers
• More tropical plants for warm gardens
• Designing a lush tropical garden
• Plants that grow well in partial shade

Common questions

Is it related to cardamom?

It is commonly called cardamom ginger, but it is related to root ginger and not to cardamom. Grow it for its foliage and flowers rather than for spice.

What does frost do to it?

An overnight frost will cut the plant back. If the soil is well mulched the rootball may survive and send up new shoots, so mulch heavily in any garden that gets cold nights.

Will it flower in shade?

It will grow in shade, but flowering is reduced in shadier sites. For the most pink buds, give it a bright position with some sun.