White Dragon Ginger Orchid

White Dragon Ginger Orchid (Globba winitii 'White Dragon') brings a pale, airy touch to shady tropical gardens. It is a small Asian ginger relative, about 50cm tall and 30cm wide, with delicate hanging sprays of white petals and long yellow ones. It likes warmth, moisture and shade, and it grows happily indoors as well as out.

Why you'll love it

• Clean white flowers. White petals with slender yellow ones lighten a dark corner and show up well against green foliage.
• A shade garden specialist. It thrives in warm, moist shade, a position that suits few flowering plants.
• Indoors or out. Grown as a houseplant it will often flower, so it works in rooms as well as borders.
• Neat and small. At 30cm wide it does not crowd its neighbours.
• A relative of the edible gingers. Ginger-style leaves give a lush tropical backdrop to the flowers.

Where it works best

Shaded subtropical borders. Plant 30cm apart in a drift to get a cloud of white flower sprays above the leaves.

Pairing with darker plants. Set it against deep green or burgundy foliage, where white sprays show best.

Pots indoors. Grow it in a warm, bright room out of harsh sun. It will flower happily indoors, and a bathroom with good light is a good fit.

Growing White Dragon Ginger Orchid in Australia

Position and climate. Warm, moist and shady. It does best in tropical and subtropical gardens and is frost tender. In cooler regions keep it in a pot and move it inside for winter. It may die back in the cool months and return in spring.

Soil. Moist, humus-rich and well-drained, with plenty of compost and a layer of mulch.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. For the longest flowering and lush new growth, add extra water in dry periods and a monthly feed of diluted liquid fertiliser.

Pruning. Not required. Tidy away finished flower stems and any browned leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell White Dragon Ginger Orchid as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small plant with a few leaves. Pot it up or plant it into prepared, mulched shade and keep it moist and warm. It builds toward its full size over the warm months and flowers once established.

Tube stock of this ginger orchid is a seasonal line and is not always available. While the tube shows as sold out the grower has none, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it returns.

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 partial shade
• Indoor flowering plants
• How to keep your indoor plants alive

Common questions

Can it live in a bathroom?

Yes, if the bathroom is warm and bright. Warmth and humidity suit it, and it often flowers well indoors.

How much shade does it need?

It likes warm, moist, shady positions. Choose a spot with filtered light or morning sun, and avoid hot, direct afternoon sun.

Does it die back?

In cooler months it may die back and then reshoot with the return of warmth. Keep the soil lightly moist and wait for the new growth.