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Variegated Crêpe Ginger in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Cheilocostus speciosus 'Foster Variegated' syn. Costus Speciosus 'Foster Variegated'

 

Variegated Crêpe Ginger

Costus is a tropical fleshy-leafed perennial plant, the leaves spiralling up the stem. In Summer it bears cone-shaped inflorescences with small flowers around. The plants can grow quite large, depending on the variety. In areas that do not have a tropical climate they will need to be grown indoors. Costus barbatus is a perennial plant with a red inflorescence. The long, red inflorescences have edible, bright yellow, tubular flowers. 'Foster Variegated' is a variegated form of Cheilocostus speciosus, having cream-edged green leaves

 
plant Features
  • Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes frequent watering

    Frequent watering

  • Variegated Crêpe Ginger is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

 
plant information

Common name

Variegated Crêpe Ginger

Latin name

Cheilocostus speciosus 'Foster Variegated' syn. Costus Speciosus 'Foster Variegated'

type

Rhizomatous perennial

family

Costaceae

ph

6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Variegated Crêpe Ginger is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Soil

    Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

  • Water

    Variegated Crêpe Ginger likes frequent watering

    Frequent watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Variegated Crêpe Ginger is 1.00meters x 3.00meters 1.00 M 3.00 M

Cheilocostus speciosus 'Foster Variegated' syn. Costus Speciosus 'Foster Variegated'

Costus is a tropical fleshy-leafed perennial plant, the leaves spiralling up the stem. In Summer it bears cone-shaped inflorescences with small flowers around. The plants can grow quite large, depending on the variety. In areas that do not have a tropical climate they will need to be grown indoors. Costus barbatus is a perennial plant with a red inflorescence. The long, red inflorescences have edible, bright yellow, tubular flowers. 'Foster Variegated' is a variegated form of Cheilocostus speciosus, having cream-edged green leaves


Flowering

From Early Summer TO Late Summer

The exotic-looking cone-shaped flowers appear through Summer

 

Planting

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Costus likes moist, free-draining soil. In anywhere other than tropical climates they will need to be grown indoors. Container-grown plants will need annual re-potting

 

Propagating by division of rhizomes

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

The rhizomes can be divided in winter to extract new plants. Dig up the whole clump, or a section of the clump, (or remove from the pot), and shake off the soil. You will see a clump of fleshy rhizomes with many shoots. Remove any dead or unhealthy rhizomes, and divide the rest, making sure each division has at least two or three shoots. Re-plant immediately.

 
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