Spiral ginger plants have bold, twisty stems and colorful blooms that make any garden or indoor space look tropical and lively.
Some gingers belong to the Costus group, often called spiral ginger (Costus dubius). Even though they look similar, these plants are in a different family from true gingers. Spiral gingers have leaves that grow in a spiral pattern and cone-shaped flower clusters at the ends of their stems. Colorful flowers appear between the overlapping parts of the cone.
Unlike true gingers, spiral gingers don’t have a strong smell or use in cooking. But in many cultures, they are valued for their healing properties.
The flowers can look different depending on the type. Some are tube-shaped and usually red or yellow, while others are more open and spread out in colors like white or light pink. The flower shape and color attract different pollinators—hummingbirds like the red or orange tube-shaped flowers, while bees prefer the open white or pink ones.
These plants live for many years and grow new shoots from underground stems called rhizomes. They like rich, moist soil but can also survive dry spells. Spiral gingers grow well in part sun, filtered light, or shade. In colder parts of Florida, they may stop growing in winter, but they come back when it gets warm again.
Unlike true gingers, you can grow new Costus plants from stem cuttings. Just lay 8-inch pieces of stem flat on the soil during warm weather.
Propagating Spiral Ginger Plant
You can grow new spiral ginger plants by dividing the roots, using stem cuttings, or separating small offshoots from the main plant and planting them in a new pot. You can do this any time of year if the conditions are right, but spring is usually the best time. When you trim back your plant to make it less bushy, you can use the healthy cuttings to grow more spiral ginger plants.
Dividing the roots is the quickest and easiest way to grow more spiral ginger plants. Spiral ginger roots are called rhizomes—they’re thick and grow sideways just under the soil. If your plant is in a pot, it probably needs repotting each year because it grows fast. Instead of just moving it to a bigger pot, you can divide the plant and get two plants instead of one. If it’s growing in the ground, dividing it also helps keep the plant from getting too big.
To propagate by stem cutting:
Here’s what you’ll need: a container, clean pruners, moist potting soil, and a clear plastic bag.
Use the clean pruners to cut a healthy stem about 6 to 8 inches long, cutting at an angle. Make sure the stem has some leaves at the top. Remove the bottom third of the leaves from the cut end. Fill the container with moist potting soil. Stick the cut end of the stem 1 to 2 inches into the soil.
Cover the container with the plastic bag and place it in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight. Open the bag for about an hour each day so air can get in. Keep the soil moist while the plant is growing.
To propagate by root division or offshoots:
Here’s what you’ll need: a pot or container, a sharp knife, moist potting soil, running water, a flat surface, and a garden fork (if your plant is in the ground).
If your plant is in a pot, turn it upside down and gently remove the root ball. If it’s in the ground, use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the plant. Then, gently pull out the root ball—it may be growing as deep as six inches. If you see small shoots growing from the base of the plant, you can gently separate one. It should already have its own root (rhizome).
Use a hose or faucet to wash the soil off the roots. Then, with a clean, sharp knife, cut the root system into sections. Ensure each piece has a few buds (referred to as “eyes”) and some roots. If any parts of the root are dark brown or black, cut them off and throw them away.
Let the cut pieces dry for a day by laying them on a flat surface. If you’re using an offshoot, wash it and let it dry for a day too.
After drying, plant each piece or offshoot in moist potting soil or garden soil.
Requirements for Growing Spiral Ginger Plant
Location
It grows best in partial sun or partial shade. Try to plant it in a spot that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. However, too much sun can cause the leaves to burn, so it’s best to give the plant some shade in the afternoon.
Soil
Plant your spiral ginger in soil that stays moist but drains well. It grows best in rich, somewhat fertile soil. You can make the soil better by adding organic material like compost. Spiral ginger also does well in soil that is neutral to slightly acidic in pH.
Water
Spiral ginger plants need a lot of water and like their soil to stay moist. They should get at least one inch of water each week. In most places, watering deeply once a week is enough, but in very hot or dry weather, you may need to water more often. Just make sure the soil never dries out completely.
Temperature and Humidity
Spiral ginger likes warm, humid weather because it’s a tropical plant. If the temperature stays above 50°F all year, it may keep blooming without stopping. This plant is tougher than people think—it can survive cold weather, even if it doesn’t bloom. After a light frost, it might wilt, but usually recovers. If there’s a hard freeze, the top may die, but it can sometimes grow back from the roots.
Fertilizer
Your spiral ginger can grow well without fertilizer if it’s planted in rich soil with organic matter like compost. But if you want to give it a little extra help, you can feed it with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.
Pruning
Pruning spiral ginger regularly helps keep the plant healthy and prevents it from growing too big. Drought or frost can damage the leaves. If you see leaves or stems that look discolored, use clean pruning shears to cut them off.
You can also remove dead or faded flowers by gently pulling or cutting them off at the base. Cut off any brown, dry leaves at the stem, and trim the top of any stems that are drooping.
If the plant is getting too big, use pruners to shape it to the size you want. Cut off extra leaves and small stems that make it too wide. If you’re pruning before winter, you can cut the stem all the way down to the ground. This helps the plant survive the cold and bloom again in spring.
Repotting
If you want to grow spiral ginger in a pot, plant a few together in a large container that holds at least three gallons and has several holes for good drainage. This plant grows quickly, so you’ll probably need to repot it every year. You can keep using the same pot—just add fresh soil and divide the root (rhizome) to grow more plants.
In cooler areas, you can grow spiral ginger indoors as a houseplant. Outdoor potted plants dry out faster, so you’ll need to water them more often—at least once a week, or even twice, depending on the weather, sunlight, and plant size.
Overwintering
Spiral ginger can handle cold down to 30°F if you cover the roots with mulch to protect them from frost. It can survive a light frost for a short time, but if it gets really cold, it’s best to bring the plant indoors for the winter or mulch it heavily to protect it.
During the cold months, water and feed it less often. Try to keep the temperature above 50°F if you want it to keep blooming. In warmer climates, the plant may go dormant in winter but will grow back when the weather warms up.
Pests and Diseases
Spiral ginger doesn’t get sick often, but it can attract pests. In the garden, bugs like aphids, scale, mealybugs, cardamom thrips, Chinese rose beetles, and slugs may show up.
There’s no one fix for all of them, but you can control pests by spraying the plant with horticultural oil, like neem oil. You can also try natural methods like adding ladybugs to your garden or picking the bugs off by hand. Insecticides are another option, but one spray probably won’t get rid of all the pests.
