Ginger, Ginger, and More Ginger

 Culinary or Ornamental, Easy to Grow, Beautiful to Look At

🌱 Plant Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 9, 2026

Have you heard ginger is something you shouldn't grow? Something that if planted will take over your yard, your neighbor's yard, or maybe even your whole neighborhood?

I say hogwash! 

Ginger is a beautiful, well-behaved plant. You just need to know how to control it. Every variety I've come across is easy to contain, simple to propagate, and beautiful in the garden. Some varieties are even very tasty to consume. 

And ginger isn't a one-note plant either. It has great range and covers a lot of bases:

• many varieties—culinary, ornamental
• fragrant, cold hardy, fern-like fronds
• bamboo in structure, but arching attitude once it gets tall
• beautiful as a specimen or mixed in a bed
• perfect for beginners—especially kids—rewarding to grow

Culinary ginger in a container

This is a culinary variety, grown from a root purchased at the grocery store. 

Ginger rhizomes (roots)

Yep, that's all it takes. Break off a piece about the size of your thumbnail, plant it about an inch deep, water it well, and give it about 2 to 3 weeks. 

You now have ginger for the rest of your life.

That's the gist of it, now let's get to the grit of it. Once you’ve got that first sprout, the rest is easy—here’s how to keep it happy.

Growing and Caring for Ginger

Ginger is a warm-weather plant that thrives from spring through fall. It's prolific, loves lots of water, and thrives in part sun. It dies back in a freeze, but in my area (8b, 9a) has always come back every year. Mine has handled snow, frost, and even stretches of single-digit temperatures without mulch and still comes back every year. Once temps steady out in the mid to upper 70s, I have new growth every year.

Using my soil mix I find I only need to fertilize once a year. Other than watering, it's one of the easiest plants I have in the garden to care for.

The best part—the roots (rhizomes) are edible. Dried, ground, or shaved fresh, ginger adds a pleasantly sweet but zesty taste that goes well with many dishes.

As far as the curb appeal—it has tons of that as well. 

A couple of Standout Varieties

Culinary Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

• edible rhizomes—the same stuff you buy at the grocery store
• upright, cane-like stems that look almost bamboo-ish when mature
• narrow, alternating leaves—gives it that fern‑leaning vibe
• moderate height—usually 3–4 feet in a pot, taller in the ground
• flavor varies by age—young ginger is mild and tender; older ginger becomes spicier and more fibrous
• easy to propagate—break a piece, plant it, done

This is the one in the photo—the “grocery store ginger” that surprises people with how ornamental it actually is.

Spiral Ginger (Costus / Cheilocostus species)

Ornamental Spiral Ginger

• bigger, broader leaves—more tropical‑looking than culinary ginger
• showy blooms—depending on species, red, yellow, or cone‑shaped
• taller growth—often 5–7 feet in Gulf South conditions
• loves heat and humidity—thrives in warm climates
• excellent specimen plant—architectural, bold, and eye‑catching

The leaves spiral down the canes, giving the illusion that the stalk itself twists. This is a ginger that makes people stop and ask what it is.

These are only two varieties, but there are over 1300 in the family. Too many to list, but plenty to choose from.

Best Places to Plant Ginger

• containers—they grow well in confined space and they can't get loose
• borders—perfect for separating an area
• the back of a mixed bed—adding beauty, elegance, and height
• morning or dappled afternoon sun

Whichever way you go, don't buy into the hype—while ginger is prolific and likes to roam, it's easy to contain and beautiful to have in the garden. Whether you want to eat it or just look at it, give it a go. I don't think you will regret it.

Happy Gardening 🌱