Zingiberaceae
Siphonochilus kirkii
African Trumpet Ginger
H
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
View in catalogue →About
This perennial herb grows from a short, thick rhizome, reaching 30-60 cm in height. It features lanceolate leaves, often with distinctive ribs, which are nearly fully developed at flowering time. Large, showy, fragrant, pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with a yellow central spot emerge sequentially on lateral shoots, each bloom lasting approximately one day.
Where it works in Kilifi
In a Kilifi-coast garden, it thrives in part sun to shade or bright filtered light, needing protection from strong afternoon sun. It prefers rich, well-drained soil and can be a charming specimen plant or incorporated into a mixed border. Allow 38-45 cm spacing between plants.
Growing notes
This ginger is considered easy to grow but spreads slowly. It is deciduous, going dormant during the dry season, when watering should be significantly reduced. During the growing period, keep the soil evenly moist and provide ample feeding; it responds well to fertilisers with adequate phosphorus.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: buyraretropicalplants.com, strangewonderfulthings.com, mozambiqueflora.com, pacificbulbsociety.org, davesgarden.com, zimbabweflora.co.zw. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.