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Alpinia malaccensis is from Indonesia and Malaysia. It
grows to over 4 meters tall. Its slow to spread sideways.
This beautiful tropical plant is becoming a popular
tropical house plant as well as a landscape plant in
warmer climates. It will become a very beautiful, elegant
plant. Those are very rare seeds.
In November and December the flowers emerge above the
leaves enclosed in a conical sheath which splits to
reveal a sumptuous cluster of fat pink and white buds.
Arranged like a Christmas tree, the lowest ones open
first to reveal a yellow, mouth-like interior, vividly
veined in bright red. The leaves are olive green, subtly
striped with lime green lines, silky hairy beneath,
reaching almost 1 meter long.
Hardiness zones 8-11, (5ºC/40ºF, -10ºC/15ºF) in
Winter. It won't flower if it gets frost. The plant will
die back with freezing temperatures. In cold climates,
rhizomes can be dug up and stored indoors for the Winter
in vermiculite.
As a houseplant, it must have bright light and humid
conditions. They do well in any good garden soil that is
rich in organic matter, and regular feeding with a
balanced fertilizer will keep this plant healthy. This
plant usually has few pest problems but the leaves will
brown on the edges if the soil is not kept moist or if
touched by frost. Requires consistently moist soil; do
not let dry out between waterings. Part shade is ideal
for this plant, it appreciates some afternoon shade in
hot Summer climates.
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