Alpinia zerumbet
- Subject: Alpinia zerumbet
- From: D* P*
- Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 06:05:58 +0100
David Feix wrote:
>I'd suggest that
>very fast draining soil or tree/overhang protection
>with a south sun exposure in winter, may be all that
>is need to grow this in southeast England outdoors,
>(and protection from winter winds).
It grew with me during the frost-free years of 1991 to 1995 and just
about managed 7-8 ft. without forming spikes. A return to more normal
winter temperatures saw the canes killed off, Although it came back
reliably and strongly by early summer, it never made much more than 6
feet of growth in any one season. The plant now grows in a friend's
slightly heated conservatory, where it hits the glass and flowers from
mid-September onwards.
The south-east is the driest region by far, but also colder -
regularly dropping a good 5 or 6F cooler than here in winter. This is
due to more frequent, continental airflows and I doubt whether this
Alpinia can withstand that. Conditions there are superb for a
bewildering range of succulent and medit-styled plants, but some from
the warmer end of the sub-tropical range can find them challenging to
say the least. I suspect the that the climate in even the warmest
parts of mainland UK is at the extreme limit of this Alpinia's
tolerance, hence its reluctance to flower out of doors here. Its a
great pity since those flowers are as you say, superb,
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
