Genus: Alpinia

Gardengem,

Gingers are extremely widely grown all over California (except the highest elevations). They are so easy to grow as long as they receive water.

You are correct when saying they're a diverse group of plants...there's many genera in the family Zingiberaceae.

Nice bloom! I'm sure that gingers grow well where you are as well. I was surprised when I found out how diverse that group of plants gingers are.

Hywel, the gaping mouth flowers ready to devour something are only 1 inch. LOL.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

That blossom is great...quite interesting when it opens..

beautiful blooms

That open flower looks like a gaping mouth ready to devour something.

That's colourful ! :o)

The foliage on this one is really pretty!

What a beauty ! It really adds that tropical touch where ever you put it !

I'll take toes then !

lol i wont be able to type

Thanks Iris. Keep them crossed for my Bird of Paradise too please !

fingers crossed for you Diohio

To look at the buds, you would never guess such beautiful,colorful petals were hidden inside !

Wish we could grow this in the garden here, it's very pretty

Wow! Cannot imagine all these tender plants growing outside.

I will not laugh at you Flcrazy. You should have seen my tulips I tried to grow in a different region, complete failure with one tulip alike outof 20 bulbs! So each person is an expert in plants which like that environment, lol. I guess that is what makes it so interesting here. I know you didn't really mean it, lol. But I would like to see yours. BTW no plant does so well when in a pot, they all love to be in the ground I think, but it is not possible I think if you have plants not endimic to your region or climate.

Wow...., mine will NEVER look like that ! And to think I was proud of mine...lol. Now that I know what they can look like when grown in the ground, mine don't quite measure up anymore....~. I'll have to post a pic of mine for you...,it will at least be good for a laugh...lol.

What beautiful big leaves !

Very poetic Flcrazy!

Lovely shot.., if this plant doesn't make your mind scream the word tropical, I don't know what does !

Marguerite you photos are amazing

It is a plant from the tropics and from the ginger family. It's common name is shell ginger.

Another unfamiliar plant - but lovely.

Yes, they definitely are tropical, perhaps temperate climate will do as well, but I don't think they like the cold or frost. You know, I live here in the hills and in winter ( now ) it can get down to 13C at night and they don't mind at all, but in the day it is 26 or higher, so I think they need the sun too.

Thanks. I thought so too when I saw it the first time. They really are amazing flowers, pretty heavy too. If used in bouquets, have a strong vase!

Awesome looking blooms, I'd love to have some of these, but I have a feeling they are tropicals from the looks of the bloom, so I'll just have to admire yours...lol.

Wow, that's neat !

beautiful