Does your garden need some zing? Zingibers are cool and fun to grow

Is there a better botanical designation than Zingiber zerumbet? Not only is that a great name, the species and its varieties are fun to grow.

But Zingibers are relatively scarce here because they’re winter dormant, a trait that dismays many gardeners. About 60 Zingiber species are native to Southeast Asia and Australia, growing in full sun or bright, filtered light.

The most popular Zingiber is Z. zerumbet, from India. It’s a rhizomatous plant up to four feet tall that bears numerous common names, including wild ginger, bitter ginger and shampoo ginger.

This species features green, cone-like inflorescences with overlapping scales and dainty light-yellow blossoms. After flowering, the cones turn bright red and last for weeks in the garden or as cut flowers. The most popular variety of Z.  zerumbet is Darcy, an extremely attractive plant with white-and-green leaves and variegated cones that transition to mahogany red.

For an eye-catching landscape subject, gardeners can’t go wrong with Zingiber neglectum – the jewel pagoda. This fabulous ginger from Australia grows six feet tall in bright, filtered light. Jewel pagoda flaunts six- to 10-inch inflorescences with green, red-edged bracts and white-and-purple blossoms. Because this species’ foliage partly obscures its lovely inflorescences, gardeners often cut them to enjoy indoors as table decorations.

Among palmsThe imposing Bismarck is pure royalty

For a splash of colorYou can't go wrong with the many varieties of crown of thorns

Oh, the flowersClivias are eye-catching plants for indoors even when not in bloom

My favorite Zingiber, though, is silver streaks (Z. collinsii), a Vietnamese and Cambodian species that grows four to six feet tall in light shade. The plant’s inflorescences are red, displaying cream-colored blossoms. But this ginger’s outstanding feature is foliage: The spearhead-shaped green leaves are ornamented with broad silver bands. It’s a plant that can’t be ignored. Ginger enthusiasts often – with some sadness, I imagine – remove a few leaves to better show off the lovely inflorescences.

Regardless of species or variety, Zingiber gingers thrive on sites fortified with organic matter such as peat, composted manure and compost. Following installation, top off with organic mulches, including pine straw, pine bark and eucalyptus wood, but avoid cypress mulch. If mulch is replenished annually – especially if a bit of manure is first spread over the mulch remaining from last year – no fertilizer is required.

Regarding light intensity, some Zingibers prefer sun, while others need shade. And though it’s best to cater to their preferences, all will grow and flower in dappled light. Be sure to irrigate during dry periods in spring and autumn. Propagate with rhizomes set three or four inches deep, or by dividing clumps in the warm season. When transplanting clumps, stake tall stems until the plants become established. Zingibers, as well as many other gingers, are available online.

Plant to ponder: Aechmea blanchetiana

A Brazilian bromeliad that grows three to five feet tall in sun or light shade, this colorful evergreen perennial displays yellow-and-red inflorescences during the cool season. Install plants in sheltered locations. Propagate by transplanting offsets. Available online.