Caulokaempferia sikkimensis

Description

Caulokaempferia sikkimensis may well be a bit of a mouthful to say, we prefer it’s common name ‘Orchid Ginger’ is a wonderful member of the Zingiber family a type of wild ginger originating from the Eastern Himalayas where it happily grows amongst ferns and other shade lovers on the forest floor. Although rarely seen in the U.K this charming plant is fairly easy to grow and quite hardy too given a warm garden and shelter from cold wet conditions in winter. Not so hard really as Caulokaempferia sikkimensis dies down once the first frosts appear, retreating to an underground tuber, ideally the base and are around the tuber should be mulched with good compost insulating the plant from cold ready to regrow once the spring frosts have passed.

What we like it the gorgeous orchid like flower produced in late summer nestled amongst the lower stems, a hidden beauty amongst the leaves you have to search for but so worth it. The leaves too are a fresh bright green broader than most gingers, the plant reaching around 80cm in total growing in typical canna or ginger fashion with sturdy stems the leaves forming alternatively along the stem. Definately worth a try if you have a sheltered shady spot in the garden that doesn’t get waterlogged in winter.