Kaempferia Marginata – Peacock Ginger

Kaempferia Marginata

Family

Zingiberaceae

Origin

Asia

Description

Kaempferia Marginata is a small ginger .It is grown as much for its medicinal properties as its highly ornamental flowers and foliage. It is the flowers that appear first, growing directly from the rhizomes out of the bare soil.

A striking feature is the pair of orbicular, wavy-margined leaves that lay flat on the ground. The leaves may be entirely purple or green with purple markings, and even plain green. Flowers are white like butterfly with a occasional purple spot in the center.

New leaves start growing in mid spring from the small dormant rhizomes. In summer, one or two flowers are produced successively from the centre of the growing tip. Flowering lasts over a two month period. The plants becomes dormant in winter – leaves die down in late autumn and rhizomes remain underground through winter.

Kaempferia Marginata, known as Peacock Ginger, features distinctive foliage and summer flowers. It thrives in shaded tropical gardens. Flowering occurs from June to September in plains and July to October in hilly areas.

Environment

Rich, well drained soil. Best grown in a container in a warm, sheltered and semi-shady spot. Water and feed well during the growing season

Landscape Use

Its relatively small size ginger that is best suited for growing in a container and kept at table-top height