The Red Ginger Alpinia purpurata is also called Ostrich Plume. The attractive bright red bracts contain small, insignificant , white flowers. The Red Ginger is the native of Malaysia and the national flower of Samoa. After the flowers have been pollinated, small plant lets appear at the end of the bract. The stem slowly bows and reaches the ground, where the baby plants take root. Alpinias are very showy and fragrant flowers, which are botanically an inflorescence forming a gigantic ball of flowers. Alpinia can be found in colors from light pinks to deep reds. Alpinias are originally from Malaya, and found throughout the tropical Pacific region.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Division
- Magnoliophyta
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Order
- Zingiberales
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
- Genus
- Alpinia
Alpinia or Tahitian Ginger has tubular flowers in droopy clusters. Alpinia plant does not produce flowers for the first 3 years, but when they grow, they show huge football sized flowers, blooming all year around.
Varieties of alpinia include Alpinia Purpurata (Red), Alpinia Purpurata (Pink), Alpinia Purpurata ?Jungle King? (Red), Alpinia Purpurata ?Jungle Queen? (Pink), Alpinia Purpurata ?Kimi Ginger?, Alpinia Purpurata ?Tomi Pink?, Alpinia Zerumbet, Alpinia Coerulea ?Blue Berry Ginger?, ?Hanging Pink?, 
- Flower arrangements.
- Alpinias have gorgeous leaves with a striking tropical look. These leaves are very popularly used as a foliage in floral arrangements.
- An alpinia plant can reach up to 15 feet tall, but usually they are 6-7 feet.
- One of the features of Alpinia plant is that the new plants grow in the middle the old flowers, which weigh the flowers down to the ground.
- Alpinia flowers tolerates long distance shipping and lasts longer.
- Alpinia flowers are primarily pollinated by bees.
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Growing Alpinias
Alpinias can be propagated by rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets).
- Alpinias prefer bright, indirect light or filtered sun.
- Alpinias require moist soil.
- Alpinias should be planted with 2 feet apart.
- For the best growth, see that the minimum temperature for the plant is 68 F.
- Feed the alpinia plant with a balanced water soluble fertilizer after flowering.
- Alpinias are not susceptible to serious insect or disease problems. Hence, alpinias are easy to be grown and taken care of.
Caring Alpinias
- Alpinias need Rich, fertile, organic soil. See that the soil is not soggy.
- Give alpinias a regular feeding.
- Pruning the plant is necessary, as it controls the size of the plant.