Bitter ginger - Zingiber zerumbet. Is it available in the UK

Hey everyone,

I keep seeing this plant on social media but is it possible to get this in the UK?

 

https://www.himalayangardens.com/product-page/zingiber-zerumbet-vareigata

 

Ah thanks, hopefully it survives in my conservatory with the heater and humidifier combo lol

 

Unless I had a particular reason for keeping it growing through the winter; I'd dry it off when the top dies down and then store dry and frost free over winter before potting up around April.
If you need to keep it growing over winter watch out for light levels, don't overwater and keep an eye open for whitefly and greenfly.All of which can be an issue in my cold greenhouse over winter.

 

Has it been easy enough for you to keep alive in our climate?

 

I haven't tried this one. I've had Zingiber chrysanthum for a few years in the cold greenhouse and although it stayed in leaf it didn't grow and gradually the foliage deteriorated until new shoots came through and I tidied it up. This year I had spot outside for it so I'm hoping for a reasonable winter, but fully expect it to lose all or most of the foliage. This is a pretty hardy Zingiber, coming from the foot hills of the Himalayas and described as from a sub tropical biome.
I have a number of plants of similar hardiness all overwintering in the cold greenhouse and some defoliate others just stand still. These include Salvias, Iochroma, Dahlias and a few other thinngs.

 

Ah ok. Its the one that grows the red cones that I'm after but don't think anywhere supplies them here.

 

Was that link I put up no good then?

 

I think it may be a different type as the flowers look really different.

 

I think its the same plant but a variegated variety, maybe more interesting as at least you get some decent foliage as well.

 

Not a fan of variegated plants myself

 

Could be just the different photographs, different cameras, processing etc.
At that price I'd order one or two and see what they come up like.
Everything I saw on ebay was more expensive.
Is it just the red flowers or is there some other property you are interested in?
Tropical biome at Eden Project have a good display of different gingers. One of my favourites there is this one.

Pineapple Ginger

 

Yeah these ones are different, its the ones that have flowers like a red pine cone that you squeeze out loads of liquid that I'm looking for really.

Yeah these ones are different, its the ones that have flowers like a red pine cone that you squeeze out loads of liquid that I'm looking for really.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/TvIXmORl7I4?si=AUvMgiycjHKwGdMB

 

Not particularly informative, yes you can wring it out, but then what? Do you drink the liquid, cook with it, or?