AUSTRALIAN NATIVE GINGER WITH BRIGHT BLUE SEED BERRIES.$4 PER 10 SEEDS Add $4 pack/post to the order
The Alpinia genus are perennial herbs with well-developed stems belonging to the family Zingiberaceae described as perennial, rhizomatous herbs, meaning they have a type of fleshy underground growth from which the shoots and roots emerge. The plants spread by the growth of this rhizome. This bush tucker herbal ginger makes a great under canopy landscape plant at around 1 to 2 metres.
The family is of some economic importance in the production of a number of spices and condiments including ginger, turmeric, cardamon and Indian arrowroot.
A multi-stemmed, clumping herb with upright arching stems to 3 m. Common in subtropical rainforests in Queensland and NSW.
Long fleshy green simple, alternate, glossy green and broadly elliptical leaves up to 40 cm long. Globose dark blue fruit to 10 mm.
The gingery root tips are also edible. Easy to grow in the garden, which makes collecting seed very easy. It prefers moist shady areas, but can tolerate some sun. A North Queensland variety with reddish leaf undersides is rapidly mixing with local populations, and is effectively indistinguishable. Propagate from seeds or division of roots.
The flowers have a modified structure but have flower parts somewhat like a lily (i.e. monocot) with 6 tepals, some of which are fused into a tube. Each flower has a front wide showy tepal (which is a landing pad for insects). Flowers are produced in a terminal spike-like head up to 30 cm long and are mainly white but with yellow and red parts.
The blue seed capsule is globose, to 1 cm across, with a brittle outer covering containing black seed and white pulp.
A hardy plant in cultivation and it prefers a lightly shaded to full shade position and will form a clump to 2 metres tall. Can also be used indoors. Not frost tolerant and prefers a warm climate. Lends well to rainforest and tropical gardens.
Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
A good bush tucker – the centres of new shoots have mild gingery flavour and are excellent in various dishes as a ginger substitute. The roots can also be used in cooking, and have a more earthy resinous flavour.
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