Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Beehive ginger, Ginger wort, Pinecone ginger, Malaysian ginger
Beehive ginger is a spectacular flowering plant with tall majestic fronds, and beautiful beehive-shaped flowers. They are mostly grown as ornamentals, though these plants are also valued for their medicinal uses in their native countries of Southeast Asia.
Plant Characteristics
Roots of Beehive ginger are thick and fleshy rhizomes that spread just below the surface of the soil. This is typical of most plants in the Ginger family, thick, long stems growing directly from the fleshy rhizomes.
The roots of Beehive ginger are slightly aromatic, used in culinary and medicinal preparations.
Stem is erect and herbaceous, growing to a height of 1.5 to 2 meters, cylindrical in shape, having lance-shaped or elliptical leaves. Individual leaflets can be 30-50 cm long with a glossy, dark green color and smooth margins.
The strikingly elegant flowers are what gives the plant is name – dense, conical spikes that are 20-30 cm long, shaped like beehives or pine cones.
The inflorescences range in color from bright yellow, orange, or deep red creating a stunning spectacle in your garden, and that’s what gives the plant its name Zingiber spectabile.
Individual flowers are tubular, yellow, orange or red in color with beautiful black markings. These flowers look like bees sitting on the beehive. The entire flower cone with flowers is so beautiful that they will add an element of intrigue, beauty, and majesty to your garden.
Beehive ginger flowers contain abundant nectar, inviting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, thus helping in pollinating other flowers as well.
After pollination, the flowers turn into small three-celled capsules that are about 5-10 cm in diameter. These fruits capsules contain several seeds.
Beehive ginger fruits are initially green, later turning brown in color as they mature, just before they split open to release the seeds.
Gardening Tips
Beehive ginger plants need good sunlight, though they are capable of growing the partial shade of large trees. These plants grow well in tropical environments with warm, humid weather and good rainfall.
The thick, fleshly rhizomes need a rich, porous, well-drained soil, as water-logging can lead to root rot. Water regularly during summer months, and when the plants are small.
Once the plant is accustomed to the soil, they do not need much care and attention. Pruning is needed only to remove rotting or diseased stems.
Fertilization should be done once a few months with organic fertilizers like manure or vermicompost.
Uses of Beehive ginger
Multiple parts of the plant have medicinal uses. The roots are used to treat digestive issues like indigestion and nausea.
Leaves, stem, flowers and fruits also have medicinal uses in the treatment of cuts, wounds, cold, cough, swelling, pain, eye diseases, conjunctivitis, and skin irritations.
They are said to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Self-medication is extremely dangerous, and this age-old wisdom about medicinal properties of common plants around us are lost as they are not being passed on to newer generations.
Young leaves and rhizomes are used in dishes like soups, curries, and sauces. Beehive ginger plants have some cultural significance as well and is used in religious rituals.
They are mostly grown as ornamental plants, adding beauty and charm to gardens, also attracting pollinators in plenty.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and rhizome division. Pieces of rhizome taken from the parent plant can be replanted after ensuring that they have a shoot growing in that piece.
Photographed at: Bangalore International Center
