Costus Speciosus
Also known as: Cheilocostus speciosus, Crepe Spiral Ginger

Here is a tall and dramatic landscape plant with large dark green leaves arranged on the stalk in a spiral staircase fashion, which gives it a distinctive difference from the more common ginger. It is native to the Malay Peninsula of Southeast Asia, but it has naturalized in some tropical areas, including Hawaii.

The flowers appear in late summer or early fall, and are quite unusual looking. They form on red 4 in (10.2 cm) cone-shaped bracts, with several 2 in (5 cm) pure white crinkled flowers protruding from each cone. The flowers look like crepe paper, thus the common name of crepe ginger. After the flowers fade away, the attractive red cone-shaped bracts remain.
This Costus can grow to 10 ft (3.1 m) tall in frost-free areas, but typically grows to about 6 ft (1.8 m) tall in cooler regions where it is root hardy but dies back in winter. Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 - 12. This is the most cold-hardy of the spiral gingers, and has been tested and proven root hardy down to 0°F (-17.8°C). It prefers part sun but will grow in full sun if it gets plenty of moisture. Regular watering requirements but will rot in standing water.

Many gingers have culinary or medicinal uses. This species is not commonly used in western cultures, but the rhizome has been used in India and Southeast Asia to treat boils, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, vertigo, ear, eye, and nose pain, and to stop vomiting.

This offer is for 15 seeds.

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*DISCLAIMER*

NO RETURNS/REFUNDS/REPLACEMENTS ON SEEDS

Most specialty seeds we offer are NOT fast to germinate.

Many take several weeks, months, and some even up towards a year depending on dormancy, region, season etc. It is important that the buyer understands that seeds are perishable products and seed germination can be adversely affected by such factors as mold/fungus, bugs, temperature, moisture content, light intensity, dormancy, care, contamination of planting media among many other reasons. These factors are totally out of The Plant Attraction's control and are the buyer's responsibility and risk. Germination recommendations are sent with each order and the buyer is free to research and use their own methods. Floating seeds do not always indicate that the seed is not viable. Many times it is a misconception because the seed does not have the density to sink in water. Accordingly, The Plant Attraction does not guarantee seeds to perform properly regardless of conditions or buyer's methods or mistakes. Since 2006 we have been doing our best to hand sort and provide the freshest, cleanest harvest that is free of defects and bugs.