Dichorisandra Species, Blue Ginger

Dichorisandrathyrsiflora

Family
Commelinaceae (ko-mel-ih-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Dichorisandra (dy-kor-ih-SAN-druh)
Species
thyrsiflora (thur-SEE-flor-uh)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Light Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Height
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Blue-Violet
Medium Purple
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Anniston, Alabama

Gardena, California

Hayward, California

Martinez, California

Newport Beach, California

Santa Rosa, California

Archer, Florida

Bartow, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Bradenton Beach, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Deland, Florida(2 reports)

Dunnellon, Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Groveland, Florida

Lake Worth, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Maitland, Florida

Melbourne Beach, Florida

Merritt Island, Florida

Naples, Florida

North Miami Beach, Florida

Orlando, Florida(5 reports)

Pensacola, Florida(2 reports)

Plant City, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida

Punta Gorda, Florida(2 reports)

Sarasota, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Venus, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Winter Springs, Florida

Yulee, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida

Honomu, Hawaii

Kailua, Hawaii

Kaneohe Station, Hawaii

Kihei, Hawaii

Maunawili, Hawaii

Gonzales, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Saucier, Mississippi

Saint Louis, Missouri

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Saint Helena Island, South Carolina

Austin, Texas

Houston, Texas

Humble, Texas

Shepherd, Texas

Alexandria, Virginia

Cabin Creek, West Virginia

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

7
positives
3
neutrals
1
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
J
Golden Beach, FL | October 2020 | positive

Do you recommend planting Blue Ginger in Full shade of partial shade? By Gregg L. Friedman MD

E
(Zone 10a) | July 2012 | negative

It becomes very sad here when temperatures rise above 30C/86F.
It is a cool grower and dislikes hot weather very much, i don't thi...Read More

S
S
Honolulu, HI | February 2012 | positive

I live on Oahu in Hawaii. I just dug up my blue ginger. I had it on the west side of the house so it gets a fair amount of shade. It has...Read More

D
Dennis, MA | December 2005 | positive

I bought a cane about 12 yrs ago, at the boston flower show. It has reached as high as 6 ft. and flowered a few times for me. I winter ...Read More

A
Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) | November 2005 | positive

Mine has been outdoors year round, in a container, for the past 5 years. It starts blooming in late September and continues through Dece...Read More

G
St. Paul, MN (Zone 4a) | August 2005 | positive

This is an excellent houseplant. It flowers indoors in the early winter.

It will grow well in an east exposure. It is ...Read More

S
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | August 2004 | neutral

Erect, clump-forming, rhizomatous, soft-stemmed, evergreen perennial - prefers fertile well-drained soil. It is not a fast grower. It i...Read More

F
Honomu, HI (Zone 11) | May 2004 | positive

This plant grows very well in the wild in Hawaii. Does not require any care that I can see. I live in the rainy area of the Big Island ...Read More

S
S
Alexandria, VA | May 2004 | neutral

I bought a shoot of this plant in Hawaii about 6 years ago without knowing anything about the plant. It has grown to 5 feet tall but has...Read More

D
D
| August 2003 | positive

I bought a shoot of blue ginger in Hawaii and brought it back to Nebraska. It has been under flourescents since planted. Something of a...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | May 2003 | neutral

I´ve seen this plant in wilderness. The contrast of the white-blue flowers with the surrounding green foliage was awesome. I never tried...Read More

Featured
Two-Striped Walkingstick
(Anisomorpha buprestoides)
Hooded Vulture
(Necrosyrtes monachus)
Featured
Two-Striped Walkingstick
(Anisomorpha buprestoides)
Hooded Vulture
(Necrosyrtes monachus)