Small Shell Ginger

Small Shell Ginger (Alpinia mutica) is a lush, leafy ginger that grows 1.5m to 2m tall and 1m to 2m wide. Its broad, glossy leaves give off a spicy cardamom scent when crushed, and in summer decorative stems of creamy white flowers with golden yellow centres rise above them, followed by orange berries. It is a free-flowering plant for tropical and subtropical gardens and for shaded containers.

Why you'll love it

• Scented foliage. Crush a leaf and you get a spicy cardamom fragrance, which makes the plant a pleasure beside a path or doorway.
• Shell-like flowers. Creamy white blooms with golden yellow centres stand proud of the foliage on decorative stems.
• Colour after the flowers. Orange berries follow in the wake of the summer blooms.
• Glossy evergreen leaves. The long, spreading leaves keep the clump full and leafy through the year.
• Flexible position. It grows from sun to shade and suits containers in shaded areas, with the best flowering in brighter spots.

Where it works best

Tropical borders. Plant it in drifts at the back of a bed or beneath larger trees. Set plants 1.5m apart so the clumps meet without crowding.

Paths and entries. Brushing past the leaves releases the cardamom scent, so plant it where people will walk close to it.

Containers. A large pot in a shaded courtyard or on a verandah carries the full height of the plant, and potted plants need watering more often than those in the ground.

Growing Small Shell Ginger in Australia

Position and climate. Subtropical and tropical gardens are ideal. It tolerates positions from sun to shade, though flowering will be reduced in shadier sites. Protect it from frost. In an overnight frost the plant will die back, but a well mulched rootball may survive.

Soil. Plant in free draining soil, enriched with compost where the ground is poor.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, which usually takes around 12 weeks. Keep the water up during dry periods, and feed with an organic liquid fertiliser for lush new growth.

Pruning. Cut stems to the ground if the clump becomes untidy. New shoots will replace the ones you remove.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Small Shell Ginger as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and in single 300mm pots. Tubes suit filling a border, while the 300mm plants give a leafier start. Plants travel upright, so unpack them promptly, plant out once frost is no longer a risk, and keep the water up while the roots 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

• See our full range of ornamental gingers
• Tropical plants for lush borders
• Hardy tropical plants that handle wind and heat
• Plants for subtropical climates

Common questions

Does it really smell of cardamom?

Crushed leaves give off a spicy cardamom scent, which is why it is also called false cardamom. It is related to root ginger, not to cardamom, so grow it for its foliage and flowers.

Can it take full sun?

Yes. It grows from sun to shade and flowers best in the brighter spots. Keep the water up in hot, dry spells.

Will it survive frost?

Protect it from frost. An overnight frost will kill the top growth, but if the soil is well mulched the rootball may survive and shoot again.