Peacock Ginger Plant – Kaempferia

Peacock ginger plant – kaempferia

The round or oval leaves of Peacock Ginger can be 4 to 10 inches long and typically feature a green background overlaid with bold markings in bronze, purple, or silver, though some varieties also have solid green leaves. Their broad leaves and low growth habit allow peacock gingers to serve as a lovely stand-in for hostas, a favorite of gardeners.

These species produce bright, fragrant flowers. The tubers have a not-so-pleasant spicy flavor and have similar uses like ginger. They produce fragrant little flowers with pink or white petals. The delicate flowers appear during the summer while the foliage grows after the bloom. When the flowers wither at the end of the season, the leaves hold on for a bit longer before the plant goes dormant for the winter.

Native to India, China, and Southeast Asia, it is part of the ginger family Zingiberaceae and includes over 100 species. The genus received its name from Engelbert Kaempfer, a German botanist.

Most varieties don’t grow very tall. This species produces leaves, reaching about 10” – 18” inches long. The leaves appear after the flowers. They produces short, hollow stems and rhizome roots. It is a demanding plant, but the other species are even more difficult to cultivate outside of the natural habitat. Mature plants may only produce three to four leaves. The upper surfaces of the leaves feature white markings while the undersides are purplish.