Don’t you love pass-a-long plants? A good friend shared some Hidden Ginger, aka Queen Lily (Curcuma petiolata) rhizomes with me early last fall. I immediately potted them up in containers to grow them for the following spring. Surprisingly enough, they survived the deep freeze that South Carolina experienced last December. By May, the beautiful bright green, lance-shaped foliage began to emerge.
Hidden ginger is in the Zingiberaceae family. It is in the same genus Curcuma as turmeric but is hardier, non-edible, and used as an ornamental. These tropical beauties are herbaceous perennials that are native to Malaysia. They will grow well and overwinter in USDA planting zones 8 to 10. Due to South Carolina’s hot, humid summers, plant hidden ginger in morning sun with partial shade in the afternoon.
Hidden ginger, aka Queen Lily (Curcuma petiolata), is a non-edible tropical ornamental ginger.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson University
Plant the rhizomes after the fear of the last spring frost has passed. They must be planted in organically rich, well-drained, moist soil. Hidden ginger grows 1 to 3 feet tall and is a slow spreader from 1 to 1 ½ feet wide. When in bloom, you first notice the pink and white colored bracts at the top of the flower stalk but look closer as you will see small yellow flowers surrounding the bloom stem. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects are frequent visitors.
The bloom stalks are topped by white and pink bracts with small yellow flowers arranged around the stem.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson University
It is deer-resistant, but slugs and snails may feed on new, tender foliage. Root rot and bacterial wilt can be a problem if kept too wet.
Hidden ginger can be mixed in borders or planted in containers to add a tropical flair to your landscape. To add textural contrast, I’ve planted mine near some elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta).
Hidden ginger can be mixed in borders with other tropical foliage plants, such as elephant ear (Colocasia esuclenta).
Barbara H. Smith, 2023 HGIC, Clemson University
