Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Zingiberaceae

Genus:

Alpinia

Species:

Alpinia carolinensis

USDA Symbol:

ALCA6

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub , Tree

Height:

150 cm

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, red

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers sheltered, humid environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

21–60 days

Notes:

Seeds require warm, moist conditions for germination. Division of rhizomes is the more common propagation method.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI