Zingiber spectabile Griff.

Common name(s): Beehive Ginger, Malaysian Yellow Beehive Ginger, Malaysian Ginger, Ginger Wort

Family: Zingiberaceae
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 20th January, 2020 at Brisbane, Queensland
Stem
Stem
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Brunei Darussalam
  • Brunei: Indigenous
Indonesia
  • Papua: Indigenous
  • Sumatra: Indigenous
  • Java: Indigenous
  • Kalimantan: Indigenous
  • Sulawesi: Indigenous
  • Lesser Sun: Indigenous
Malaysia
  • Malaysia: Indigenous
  • Sarawak: Indigenous
Papua New Guinea
  • PNG: Indigenous
Philippines
  • Philippine: Indigenous
Singapore
  • Singapore: Indigenous
Timor-Leste
  • Timor: Indigenous
Plant Type
Herb-Rhizomous
Herb-Rhizomous
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Garden, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected
Garden,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
1.5-2m
1.5-2m
Mature Width
1-1.5m, 1.5-2m
1-1.5m,
1.5-2m
Plant Shape
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright Clump - Upright
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Maturity
1-2 yrs
1-2 yrs
Life Span
30-50yrs
30-50yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Green
Green
Colour (back)
Green
Green
Shape(s)
Oblong
Oblong
Oblong Oblong
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Length(s)
250-275mm, 300-325mm
250-275mm,
300-325mm
Leaf Width(s)
80-90mm, 90-100mm, 100-125mm
80-90mm,
90-100mm,
100-125mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Cross Section(s)
Flat
Flat
Flat Flat
Venation(s)
Parallel
Parallel
Parallel Parallel
Arrangement
Alternate & Distichous
Alternate & Distichous
Alternate & Distichous Alternate & Distichous
Apice(s)
Acute Broadly
Acute Broadly
Acute Broadly Acute Broadly
Base(s)
Clasping
Clasping
Clasping Clasping
Attachment
Sheathed
Sheathed
Sheathed Sheathed
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Green
Green
Colour(s) Lower
Green
Green
Texture(s) Upper
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Textures(s) Lower
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Pith Continuous
Pith Continuous
Pith Continuous Pith Continuous
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter
20-25mm, 25-30mm
20-25mm,
25-30mm
Flower Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Time(s)
Summer Early - Summer Late
Flower Colour(s)
Glossy, Purple Dark, Yellow Spotted
Glossy,
Purple Dark,
Yellow Spotted
Flower Size(s) Width
20-25mm, 25-30mm
20-25mm,
25-30mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangement(s)
Bract Spike
Bract Spike
Bract Spike Bract Spike
Arrangement Size(s)
275-300mm, 300-325mm
275-300mm,
300-325mm
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Butterflies, Insects
Bees,
Butterflies,
Insects
Root Properties
Type
Rhizome
Rhizome
Rhizome Rhizome
Texture
Fibrous
Fibrous
Fibrous Fibrous
Knobbly , Woody
Knobbly,
Woody
Invasiveness
Low
Low
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist
Fertile , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Shallow,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Nectar, Insect
Nectar,
Insect
Butterfly Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Frog Habitat
Poor
Poor
Carbon Sequestration Potential
None
None
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
None
None
Medicinal Use(s)
T/F - Leaves
T/F - Leaves
Fire Regeneration(s)
Rhizome
Rhizome
Fire Retarding
Good
Good
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Minimum Temperature Tolerance
4 - 6°C
4 - 6°C
Smog Tolerant
Moderate
Moderate
Indigenous Use(s)
Leaves - Traditional medicine
Leaves - Traditional medicine
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Street Use
None
None
Commercial Use(s)
Horticulture - Amenity
Horticulture - Amenity
Maintenance(s)
Cut Back - Early Autumn, Dividing - Autumn, Dividing - Late Winter
Cut Back - Early Autumn,
Dividing - Autumn,
Dividing - Late Winter
Pests/Diseases
Scale, Slugs, Snails
Scale,
Slugs,
Snails
Special Purpose(s)
Erosion Control, Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Bali, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Informal, Garden-Medicinal, Garden-Tropical, Long Flowering, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Screen, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen
Erosion Control,
Fire Retarding,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Bali,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Medicinal,
Garden-Tropical,
Long Flowering,
Pond Edge,
Pool Side,
Screen,
Shade Tolerant,
Shady Moist,
Soil Binder,
Specimen
Dormancy
Winter
Winter
Humidity Requirements
High, Very High
High,
Very High
Vulnerability
LC - Least Concern
LC - Least Concern
Altitude Range - Habitat
0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m
0-100m,
100-200m,
200-300m,
300-400m,
400-500m,
500-600m,
600-700m,
700-800m,
800-900m,
900-1,000m
Annual Precipitation Range
600mm, 650mm, 700mm, 750mm, 800mm, 850mm, 900mm, 950mm, 1,000mm, 1,100mm, 1,200mm, 1,300mm, 1,400mm, 1,5oomm
600mm,
650mm,
700mm,
750mm,
800mm,
850mm,
900mm,
950mm,
1,000mm,
1,100mm,
1,200mm,
1,300mm,
1,400mm,
1,5oomm
Fertilising Requirements
FR4, FR6
FR4,
FR6
Wind Tolerance
Not Wind Tolerant
Not Wind Tolerant
Propagation
Fresh Seed, Rhizomes

General Notes

Commonly referred to as the Beehive Ginger due to the inflorescence shape looking like a skep beehive. Very eye catching in a tropical garden when in flower.

Propagation Notes

Rhizomes
Flowering
Summer
Division
Winter Mid, Winter Late
Material Preparation

For field collected stock, choose medium to large clumps. Dig up and remove the top half of the foliage on site. Gently plunge, wash soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each reasonable sized section of the clump, ensure each section has roots attached with at least one leaf stalk. Drop all sections into a mild solution of Phosacid bath to kill any Phytopthera etc., from the field collection. Drain. Keep moist during preparation.

For nursery stock, remove from the pot. Carefully divide up and cut the root system with a sharp knife for each clump, ensure each section has roots       attached with at least one leaf stalk. Remove damaged roots. Cut off the top 1/2 of foliage. Keep moist during preparation.

Propagating Mix

Premium Potting Mix

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep. Pot up as soon as possible. Water in with dilute 30ml Seasol and 10ml Plant Starter solution to 5 lt. water. Place outside in light shaded area and keep moist until re-established or in cooler areas place in a hot house at 25-30oC

Strike Rate:-    Field Stock        75 – 95% strike rate.

                        Nursery Stock  95% strike rate

Rooting time:- Field Stock        5 – 8 weeks 

                        Nursery Stock  5 - 8 weeks 

Division Yield per 300mm Pot:-   2 – 4 plants