Feeling Blue (Ginger) This Fall

Fall is in the air.  Halloween decorations, candy corn, mums… houses and landscapes are decked out in shades of yellow, orange, and red.  However, one of the Panhandle’s absolute easiest perennials bucks the trend of autumnal hues, sports flowers of deep, brilliant blue, and is blooming right now – Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora).

Blue Ginger is an unusual landscape plant for several reasons.  First, the name Blue Ginger is a little bit of a misnomer.  The spreading perennial species, native to southern Brazil and hardy into our zone 9, isn’t a true ginger at all, rather it resides in the Spiderwort plant family Commelinaceae, making it a close relative of other blue/purplish hued plants like Purple Heart Plant and Spiderwort.  Second, it’s 10” flower spikes emerge here when few other landscape plants do (October) – after many of our summer annuals have finally sputtered out but before sasanquas and other cool season bloomers make their appearance.  Rounding out Blue Ginger’s unique role in fall Panhandle landscapes is the color of its flowers.  Simply calling them blue does the otherworldly color a disservice.  Imagine the most striking, deep, brilliant blue you can and that will get you in the neighborhood.  A Blue Ginger in flower has to be seen to be fully appreciated!

Blue Ginger flower spike. Photo courtesy of Daniel Leonard.

Adding to the appeal is that Blue Ginger is exceptionally easy to grow.  However, the species does have specific growing condition needs.  The ideal landscape placement for Blue Ginger is a shady oasis protected from the hot afternoon sun and blustery breeze that keeps its roots cool and moist and its succulent leaves from excessive drying.  My specimen has performed excellently for over a decade on the north wall of an outbuilding, in relatively rich soil, mulched well to retain moisture, and shielded by a nearby fence.  It has been years since I’ve either fertilized or watered it and the plant returns each summer, growing to about 4’ in height, and blooms each October, asking for nothing in return.  One must remember the saying “Right Plant, Right Place”, as Blue Ginger can be the easiest plant ever to cultivate or a problem child that never performs like you want it to, all depending on where one sites it in the landscape.

If Blue Ginger has one drawback, it’s that it is uncommon in the nursery trade.  When shopping for one, choose independent nurseries who are known to have a wide assortment of plants, maybe even a greenhouse/tropical section.  I’ve never once seen Blue Ginger in a large chain nursery or box store.  The best, cheapest, and most fun method of obtaining one though is to get a friend that has one to give you a cutting of their plant, as the stems root easily into new plants!

Think outside the box this fall and add some blue to your landscape with Blue Ginger.  Give it a protected shady spot and a little water and it will reward your landscape with brilliant blues every October for years to come.  For more information about Blue Ginger or any other horticultural topic, contact your local UF/IFAS County Extension office.  Happy Gardening!