Kaempferia rotunda (Peacock Ginger, Bhumi Champa) as Propagation Material

Family: Zingiberaceae (includes gingers, galangals, and turnerics)
Genus: Kaempferia (includes Thai black ginger)

Botanical/Binomial Name: Kaempferia rotunda
Meaning of Name:
Kaempferia, for Engelbert Kaempfer (1651–1716), a German naturalist, physician, explorer and writer who lived in Japan and east Asia from 1689-1693, writing of their native plants whilst there; and
rotunda, from Latin rotunda (feminine singular of rotundus, ‘round, spherical’): a reference to the shape of the tubers

Common Names: Peacock Ginger, Bhumi Champa, Indian Crocus, Round-rooted Galangale

Botanical Characteristics: Herbaceous | Perennial | Rhizomatous | Frost tender
Propagation: Division of rhizomes

Item Description:
PROPAGATION MATERIAL PROVIDED ON REQUEST
Kaempferia rotunda can be purchased here if in stock.

The price listed here for propagation material is an indication only. The actual price may vary depending on your requirements. I am most happy to discuss your needs with you, and supply accordingly.

Plant Description:
This member of the ginger family is both a medicinal plant as well as a striking ornamental.

The flower and leaf are never seen together, but the all-over-the-place weather the past few years seems to trigger the highly irregular appearance of both at once these days. Also unusual is that the flowers last about a week instead of the more typical two or three days.

Growing Information:
Kaempferia rotunda happily grows in a pot or in the ground, and will absolutely thrive in any permanently cool, shady spot as the last three photos show.

LIke all members of the ginger family, K. rotunda prefers a well-draining soil rich in organic matter.

I grow all my gingers in Air-Pot containers, and cannot recommend them enough. All gingers do amazingly well in the nutrient-rich, well-drained and highly aerobic environment these containers create.

K. rotunda will die down around June/July. Do not disturb the plant until the dead leaves come away without any resistance. Any resistance means the plant is still withdrawing nutrients from that leaf which it needs to get through winter.

Rhizomes reshoot around November. Typically the flowers appear first for a few days, then die to be followed by the leaves, but of late this hasn’t been the case and both are just as likely to appear together as not, at least here in my climate.