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Curcuma - Hidden Cone Gingers for the

Temperate Garden

By Dennis Carey and Tony Avent


Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
www.plantdelights.com
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.772.4794

Curcuma 'Sulee Sunshine'


Introduction

To get a bold-textured tropical look in a warm temperate garden, there is a short list of
perennials that fit the bill. One of my favorites is the little-known but amazing genus
Curcuma. Curcuma, or hidden cone gingers, is a genus of mostly tropical plants known
for their dramatic bold foliage and flamboyant floral show. Curcuma can range in height
from just under 2' to over 7' tall. The slightly hidden flowers resemble psychedelic
pinecones...a nice trip back to the 1960s. We urge our readers to visit the garden on our
Open House Days in summer and fall to see our Curcuma collection. One of the reasons
that Curcuma have never reached a high level of popularity is that they haven't begun to
sprout during the spring garden center season, but because of this, they can be
interplanted with spring bulbs such as daffodils, which go dormant before Curcuma
emerge. Curcuma are plants that you must purchase as a leap of faith, then sit back and
enjoy later in your garden.

History of Ethnobotanical and Economic uses

Cultivated for more than 4000 years, Curcuma rhizomes have been a source of food,
spice, and medicine, Curcuma longa rhizomes are dried and ground into the spice
turmeric which gives curry powder its distinct color and odor. The spice has several
purported medicinal uses including lowering blood pressure, slowing down Alzheimer's
disease, and relieving pain. The rhizome is also a source of a dark yellow dye used in
cosmetics and food coloring. Curcuma amada rhizomes are eaten fresh and used as both
anti-inflammatory medicines and contraceptives. Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes are eaten as
a spicy, but bitter vegetable, and are also used to combat flatulence…move over Beano®!
Oils from Curcuma are used in perfumes and, of course, many Curcuma are grown as cut
flowers. As gardeners discover that many of the species are winter hardy, there is
tremendous growth potential in this market as well.

Morphology

Curcuma is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with thick, fleshy, branched rhizomes.


Their "stems" are not true stems, but actually pseudostems, because they are composed of
long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles from which the leaves arise. Pseudostems with
clasping leaves are common in this group of plants and can also be seen in both canna
and bananas. All the genera in the family Zingiberaceae have food storage rhizomes with
a "gingery" or "lemony" scent. The leaves, which are similar to a canna, can be solid
green, variegated, or have a red central blotch.

Curcuma have flower spikes that arise from the top of the pseudostem or sometimes on a
separate stem directly from the rhizome. Flowering may occur early in the growing
season, just before the leaves unfurl or along with them late in the growing season,
depending on the species. The bracts near the top of the spike are colorful and showy, but
do not have florets. The florets are held lower down on the spike amongst less-showy
bracts. Like poinsettias, the actual flowers are not the featured attraction. The florets are
white, yellow, pink or orange in color and the bracts can be a variety of colors including
white, pink, yellow, green, burgundy, or multicolored. The overall effect is that of a
technicolored pinecone. Curcuma need heat to trigger flowering and thus do well in warm
climates such as the Southeast US. In mild climates (like Great Britain) Curcuma may
grow well but never bloom.

Although Curcuma come from warm parts of the world, they go through a dormant
period in which the plants die back to the rhizome and then are slow to re-emerge in the
spring. Many gardeners assume that they have lost their plants but are relieved to see
them finally emerge in June and July when the soil temperatures heat up.

Taxonomy

Curcuma belong to the ginger family Zingiberaceae, which includes many useful herbs
and ornamental plants. The spice, ginger (from Zingiber officinalis), is the best known
and most widely used. Important ornamental cousins include Alpinia (Shell Ginger), and
Kaempferia (torch-ginger). The gingers are more distantly related to other common
ornamental plants such as Musa (bananas), Heliconia, Canna, and Maranta. All
Zingiberaceae share a common trait in that their flowers produce just one true stamen.

The genus Curcuma consists of between 80 and 117 species of medium-sized plants.
Their center of diversity is in southeast Asia, but some species extend to the Himalayas,
Southern China, Australia and the Pacific Islands. The name Curcuma was coined by
Carl Linnaeus and refers to the Arabic word "kurkum" which is their name for the
yellowish color of the root.

Curcuma are commonly known by a number of common names, including turmeric,


Indian saffron, Siam tulip, zedoary, and hidden lily. The first two names refer to its use as
a spice and the name "hidden lily" refers to the fact that some species have short
inflorescences that are obscured by the leaves.

Culture

In their native habitats, Curcuma emerge during the monsoon season and are triggered to
become dormant by dry weather. This roughly corresponds to the winter/summer cycle in
temperate gardens. Ginger expert, Tony Schilling, says "treat them to monsoon
conditions - warm, wet and well fed in the summer, and cool and dry in the winter." If
you let your Curcuma get too dry, they will lose their leaves and stop flowering. Moist,
but well-drained, organically-rich, slightly acidic soils produce the best flowering.
Curcuma prefer sun for at least a couple of hours, but most species will also do fine in
high, open shade.

We have also found that Curcuma will perform best if lifted and divided every 5 years in
order to maintain their vigor. In doing so, keep in mind that if you divide the plants when
they are too small, they may not flower for a couple of years. At a minimum, leave 3-5
eyes (the creamy pointy things) per division, but more is better. Dividing is best done in
spring or summer. When re-planting, place the rhizomes 4-6" below the surface to give
them some cold protection, although the rhizomes will eventually grow to the depth that
best suits them.

After frost kills the tops, you may cut back the stems and compost them or leave them
alone and the stems will detach from the rhizomes naturally. In climates where the
Curcuma aren't winter hardy, lift and store the rhizomes inside in a box of sawdust or
peat moss (to prevent desiccation) where the temperatures stay above freezing.

Curcuma also make great potted plants, however, gardeners will need to re-pot the plants
often because the thick rhizomes quickly grow large enough to split open a pot. Potted
specimens require lots of water (daily or even more frequently) when they are active and
root-bound.

Pests and Diseases (Ginger ailments)

Luckily, Curcuma are not bothered by many pests, with slugs and snails being the
worst…especially on the unfurling leaves. In containers or in a soil that is too dry, mealy
bugs and spider mites may become a problem. In old plantings, a fungal disease called
mushroom root rot may occur. The first symptom is the browning and loss of the top few
leaves on the stem. If you cut open a rhizome and find brown flesh with white specks
your plant probably has root rot. Cut off all of the infected parts of the rhizome, dust the
remaining healthy parts with sulfur powder and replant in a new location.

Propagation

Most Curcuma are sterile, leading to the current assumption that most plants in the trade
are hybrids, so don't expect to see any seed unless you have access to wild collected
species. In the wild, specific Curcuma pollinators are also present that are not present in
the temperate garden. Thus Curcuma will not set seed in the garden unless you hand
pollinate them during the summer. If you manage to actually get seed, they are relatively
easy to germinate. Seed should be collected as the seed pods open in the late fall and
must be surface sown (don't cover) immediately. The seed may take several months of
warm temperatures to germinate.

Species, Cultivars, and Hybrids

Below is a list of some of the interesting species and cultivars that have been successful
at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Gardens. There are many more
possibilities available for gardeners from Zone 8b and south. Recent genetic work in
Curcuma is showing that many of the plants which we think of as species are actually
ancient sterile hybrids…that work continues while we strive to find species that tolerate
our central North Carolina climate (Hardiness Zone 7b, 35ºN latitude).

Curcuma elata (Spring Hidden Cone Ginger) has stood out in our trials as one of the
finest cold-climate garden specimens in the genus Curcuma. The huge, bold-textured,
canna-shaped green leaves compose the giant 6' tall clump. For us, this is the earliest
Curcuma to flower, mid-June in NC, when the 1' tall pinecone-like spikes sprout from the
base of the plant. Each flower spike is topped with bright pink bracts which serve as
mini-umbrellas for the yellow flowers that poke from the side of the cone below.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Curcuma longa (Turmeric) (syn. Curcuma domestica) is one of the toughest Curcuma
that we grow. The 3' tall pleated green leaves are adorned, starting in early September,
with colorful pinecones that are nestled among the leaves. (Hardiness Zone 7b-11)

Curcuma myanmarensis (Burma Pink Hidden Cone Ginger) (aka: Smithatris


myanmarensis) is an amazingly hardy and floriferous hidden cone ginger. Curcuma
myanmarensis hails from Burma (Myanmar), where it forms slowly multiplying clumps
in the moist woodlands. In the garden, the central stalk is adorned by two light green
leaves, then topped by a terminal 18" tall stalk that ends in a short pink torch. Curcuma
myanmarensis is the longest flowering ginger that we grow, with flower stalks being
produced from late spring into October (NC). Curcuma myanmarensis is an easy-to-grow
sister to the more difficult and less hardy Curcuma alismatifolia. We recommend planting
at least 6" deep if your soils are prone to freezing in the winter. (Hardiness Zone 8-10
guessing)

Curcuma ornata (Ornate Hidden Cone Ginger) has a tropical appearance in the border or
in a color bowl. It's hard to beat this Asian species, which resembles Curcuma zedoaria,
except that the leaf is much larger: 28" long and 8" wide. Each textured green leaf has the
same fabulous reddish purple stripe down the center. In addition to the larger leaves and
larger stature of the clump, Curcuma ornata has a reddish purple cast to the lower stem.
The hidden pinecone-like flowers of light pink are attractive for nearly a month in June.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10 guessing)

Curcuma petiolata (Hidden Cone Ginger) has large, tropical looking leaves (10" long by
6" wide) that form a 3' tall clump. The foliage grows out of a short underground rhizome,
making an upward growing small clump. The flowers resemble purple pinecones and are
formed in the middle of the clump from mid-to late summer. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10
guessing)

Curcuma petiolata 'Emperor' (Striped Hidden Cone Ginger) This Tim Chapman
introduction from Thailand makes an easy-to-grow, 2' tall by 2' wide clump of pleated
green leaves (18" long by 6" wide), each with a dramatic white border. This is the only
known variegated curcuma. In early summer, you will enjoy the pinecone-like flower of
purple and green at the base, and for the rest of the growing season you will adore the
tropical foliage. It has survived 0 degrees F in our garden with no protection, but in
colder climates it makes a great house plant. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Curcuma zedoaria (Hidden Cone Ginger) is a spectacular ginger that garners all the
attention from our visitors...especially since it has survived 0 degrees F in our garden.
The large, tropical-looking green leaves (2' long by 5" wide) have a dramatic, wide,
purple-red stripe down their centers. As the leaves emerge, so do the flowers, resembling
oversized '60s psychedelic red-and-yellow pinecones on 1' scapes. Each plant makes a
clump to 3' (taller in warmer climates) by 2-3' wide. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Curcuma zedoaria 'Bicolor Wonder' (Bicolor Hidden Cone Ginger) was selected for its
attractive bicolor flowering bracts...solid white except for purple fingernail-sized tips on
the end of each bract. The 6' tall, bold, aspidistra-like foliage, with a maroon stripe down
the leaf center, emerges in mid-June alongside the pinecone-like inflorescence.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Curcuma zedoaria 'Pink Wonder' (Pink Wonder Hidden Cone Ginger) The foliage of this
selection resembles a fancy aspidistra on steroids...6' tall green leaves with a central
burgundy stripe. The flowers on this selection emerge like pinecones on separate 1' tall
stems alongside the foliage. Curcuma 'Pink Wonder' was selected for inflorescences that
are white at the base and bright pink on the top. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Curcuma zedoaria 'White Wonder' (White Wonder Hidden Cone Ginger) The 5' tall
pleated green leaves, without the maroon stripe are adorned in fall with pure white
"cones". (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hybrids

Curcuma 'Pink Plush' (Pink Plush Hidden Cone Ginger) This is a wonderful Tom Wood
hybrid. The 30" tall clump is composed of long green leaves, each highlighted by a
central purple stripe. The clumps are adorned with 1' tall stalks of lovely pink pinecone-
like flowers from late August into October. So far, this has survived 8 degrees F with no
protection. (Hardiness Zone 8-11)

Curcuma 'Sulee Sunshine' (Sulee Sunshine Hidden Cone Ginger) is a hybrid from
Thailand breeder Annop Ongsakul. Developed for the tropical cut flower market,
Curcuma 'Sulee Sunshine' has come through two mild winters (15ºF) in our garden. This
splendid selection flowers for us from August through October with 9" stalks, topped
with long-lasting 8" flower "cones," dipped in pink and yellow. As a background, the 18"
long by 8" wide pleated green leaves naturally fold away from the flowers unlike many of
the other curcumas. (Hardiness Zone 8-10 at least)

Curcuma 'Summer Snow' (Hidden Cone Ginger) The green leaves only reach 3' in height,
adorned by the cone-shaped flowers which are nestled about 2' off the ground in
September. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

References

Branney, T.M.E. (2005), Hardy Gingers including Hedychium, Roscoea, and Zingiber,
Timber Press, Portland Oregon

Chapman, T.S., (1994), Ornamental Gingers - A Preliminary Guide to Selection and


Cultivation
Constantine, D., (2008), Hedychium, an annotated list of the species and cultivars grown
in the UK, http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/hedychium_home.htm

Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden Gardening with Hardy
Tropicals - http://www.plantdelights.com/Tony/tropicals.html

Hardiness Zones - http://www.plantdelights.com/More/usda_map.html Website -


http://www.plantdelights.com

Ravindran, P.N., et. al., (2007), Botany and Crop Improvement of Turmeric, in Turmeric:
the genus Curcuma, 1st Edition, CRC Press

Spencer-Mills, L. & K. (1996), Glorious Hedychium, The Garden magazine, December


1996, pp. 754-759

Wood, T. (1999), Ginger Lilies, The American Gardener magazine, November/December


issue, pp. 40-45.

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