Add spice to your garden

Ornamental ginger plants can be a great way to add attractive and exotic colour, foliage, and blooms to your garden. Whether they go in beds or in containers, these plants offer diversity without a lot of maintenance.

Most ginger plants are grown to be used in floristry due to their exquisite flowers and beautiful foliage. However, there are a few exceptions, such as Edible Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) which are grown for human consumption. Ornamental Gingers are very popular garden plants as they provide a fantastic floral display in a multitude of shapes and colours. Many are evergreen; however, some species will die down and regrow year after year.

How to grow Ornamental Ginger in a garden

Depending on the variety chosen, Ornamental Gingers can live in full sun to full shade. Check the label for the most suitable aspect.

Choose a position protected from winds with moist but well-drained soil.

Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.

Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised doughnut-shaped ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.

Mulch with an organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.

Water deeply, then once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

During the growing and flowering season, feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food.

How to grow Ornamental Ginger in a pot

Choose a pot at least 300mm wide.

Depending on the variety chosen, Ornamental Gingers can live in full sun to full shade. Check the label for the most suitable aspect.

Choose a position with protection from wind and hot afternoon sun.

Fill the pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Remove the plant from the container, position in hole and backfill, gently firming down.

Water deeply, then once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Liquid Plant Food.

Growing tips

Prune down old growth at end of growing period.

Remove spent flowers during growing period.

Give a big clean-up and prune down at the end of summer if required. Fleshy offcuts can be composted and any rhizome divisions replanted.

Gingers work well in tropical-style gardens. They work well as an undergrowth planting, where the taller trees/garden give protection to the lower ginger. Mix different gingers together, planting taller varieties to the back and shorter ones to the front of the garden. They also work well with other accent plants like cordylines, alternanthera and coleus. — Courtesy of Yates