Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata'

Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' is one of the most rewarding foliage plants for the exotic garden. Celebrated for its lush, upright habit and lance-shaped leaves dramatically striped in creamy gold and deep emerald green, it also carries a subtle, spicy herbal scent when the foliage is brushed or crushed.

By securing this variety as an autumn plug, you bypass the high cost of mature potted specimens next May. Pot it straight up into a starter pot, enjoy it as a striking houseplant on a bright windowsill over the colder months, and hit spring with an active, well-established root system ready to explode with growth.

Why Start with a Winter Plug?

• Spring Head Start: While others wait for nursery deliveries in late spring, your ginger will already have a robust, established root ball ready to power away.

• Winter Houseplant Appeal: Stunning, high-contrast tropical variegation that looks fantastic indoors right through the dark winter months.

• Substantial Value: Top-tier exotic genetics at a fraction of the cost of 2-litre summer specimens.

Plant Details & Sizing

• Format: Young plug plant with an established starter root system

• Type: Evergreen/semi-evergreen architectural rhizomatous perennial

• Eventual Garden Height: 1.2m – 1.8m

• Eventual Spread: 80cm – 1m

• Foliage: Rich green broadly variegated with irregular golden and creamy-yellow stripes

• Hardiness: Hardy down to around -2°C to -4°C at the rhizome once established, but best given a frost-free winter shelter or kept containerised to preserve its evergreen foliage.

Winter Care & Growing-On Guide

• Potting Up: On arrival, pot your plug into a 9cm or 1-litre pot using a free-draining, rich compost mix (good quality peat-free multi-purpose blended with perlite or coarse grit).

• Light: Position on a bright, sunny windowsill indoors or inside a heated/frost-free greenhouse. Good ambient light maintains strong variegation throughout winter.

• Watering: Keep the compost lightly moist to the touch. Do not allow it to sit waterlogged in drip trays, and let the top centimetre of compost dry out slightly between waterings.

• Spring Planting: In late spring (May), once all risk of late frost has passed, step it up into a large decorative patio pot or plant it into a sheltered garden border in semi-shade to partial sun. Keep well-watered and fed through summer for maximum foliage impact.