Flower Library
Ginger Flower
Zingiber · Zingiberaceae
Ornamental ginger is the wild relative of kitchen ginger — what gets cut is not the root but the sculptural flower cone, which grows straight out of the ground. The waxy, cone-like heads in red, pink or green are among the most striking things tropical floristry has to offer. With us it features in exotic bouquets and large vessel work; we buy fresh import stock via the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Latin name
- Zingiber
- Colors
- Red, Pink, Green with red tint, Creamy white
The best-known cut form is Zingiber spectabile, the beehive ginger: its cone looks like a woven beehive of waxy chambers that shift in colour from green-yellow to red. Alongside it runs Zingiber zerumbet, whose smooth cones contain a gel-like liquid — known in Asia as shampoo ginger.
As with alpinia and curcuma, the colourful part of ornamental ginger is a bract structure, not the actual flower. The small true blooms emerge one by one between the chambers and are rather inconspicuous. The cone itself therefore holds its shape for weeks.
In arrangements, ornamental ginger is a soloist and structure-giver. It demands large formats: floor vases, reception pieces, exotic designs with strelitzias and anthuriums. Its weight is considerable — the vase must be stable, and in a bouquet it belongs set low and central.
As pure tropical stock it is cold-sensitive: below about twelve degrees the tissue suffers and the cones develop glassy, later brown patches. The classic beginner mistake is storing it in a cool hallway or even the fridge — room temperature is the right choice here.
Quality shows in plump, glossy cones without soft spots and a firm, green stem. Regular misting with water benefits the waxy chambers and goes some way to replacing the warm, humid air of its countries of origin.
Is Ginger Flower toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The ginger family is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people. The ornamental forms are still not food — eating them is not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Give the stem a generous cut and place it in a heavy, tall vase with plenty of water.
- 02Keep at room temperature — never below twelve degrees, no fridge, no cold draughts.
- 03Mist the cone with water every few days to keep the waxy chambers fresh.
- 04Change the water completely every two to three days; the thick stem clouds it quickly.
- 05Mind the stability: the cone is top-heavy and tips over light vases.
- 06Soft or glassy spots on the cone are cold damage — return such stock, do not nurse it.
Frequently asked
- Is ornamental ginger the same as kitchen ginger?
- It is the same genus Zingiber, but different species are used: kitchen ginger is Zingiber officinale, while ornamental species such as Zingiber spectabile are cut for their decorative cones. The cut flower is not for eating — but it lasts all the longer in the vase.
- How long does a ginger cone last in the vase?
- Ten to fourteen days are normal, often more. The waxy bract chambers age very slowly. What matters is a warm spot, clean water and occasional misting — then ornamental ginger ranks among the longest-lasting items in the exotic range.
- Is ornamental ginger toxic to pets?
- No, the ginger family is considered harmless to cats, dogs and people. That makes ornamental ginger one of the safe exotic options for pet households. Nibbling should still not be encouraged — the cone is fibrous and hard to digest.
- Why does the flower cone grow on a leafless stem?
- In ornamental ginger, flower heads and foliage shoot separately from the rootstock: the cone sits on its own leafless stalk just above the ground. What looks unusually bare in the shop is completely normal — and actually practical in floristry, since no foliage rots in the vase water.