Costus Species, Orange Tulip Ginger, Spiral Ginger

Only the top two photos are of the plant known in horticulture as Costus curvibracteatus - the others below are Costus scaber or somethin...Read Moreg else. Also, unfortunately, this is another Costus that was incorrectly identified in the nursery trade many years ago. It is actually Costus productus - not Costus curvibracteatus. The real Costus curvibracteatus looks quite different and I have never seen it in cultivation in the US. I saw it in habitat in Costa Rica on the northeastern flank of the Talamanca Mountains just last May and I have one small plant started.

This extremely interesting Costus has been flowering constantly now for over one year, so I guess it is flowering year round for me. It ...Read Moreis not as happy with the cooler winter temperatures, and seems to stop putting out new shoots when nights fall below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). But existing shoots are still flowering, and are about 1 meter tall. I suspect that the above ground shoots would die back if we had a freeze.

I like it-- very nice- produces red cones with white crepe papper like translucent blooms with yellow centers-root is used to make medici...Read Morenes and to eat.