Alpinia is a genus in the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. Most of the genus is tropical & sensitive to frost, though several species are root hardy to at least zone 8. Since most species bloom terminally on older stems if growth is killed by freezing there will be no flowers. Most species have highly aromatic foliage which emerge from pseudostems which can be anywhere between 6" to 15' tall & arise from fleshy rhizomes.
Alpinia japonica is an unusually hardy member of this genus from China, Taiwan, and Japan. It is mostly evergreen in zone 8b and produces spikes of peppermint-striped red and white flowers in the spring. These occasionally produce small grape-shaped seed capsules which take year to mature and turn bright red the following year when flowers are emerging. Photos by Alani Davis.
Alpinia pumila is an unusually hardy member of this genus from China. Flowers are very similar to those of A. japonica but with shiny silver patterned foliage to 8-10". Creeping rhizome forms nice clumps with time. Photos by Alani Davis.
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