Dancing ladies ginger Globba winitii
Dancing ladies ginger (Globba winitii) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family, native to Thailand (moist forest floor). It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 30–50 cm (12–20 in) wide, wants shade and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Dancing ladies ginger in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Dancing ladies ginger at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 2 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 9–17 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Thailand (moist forest floor) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Dancing ladies ginger toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Dancing ladies ginger
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and high water.
See Dancing ladies ginger in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (10 plants)
Questions about Dancing ladies ginger
- How far apart should I plant Dancing ladies ginger?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).
- Does Dancing ladies ginger need full sun?
- Shade: at least 2 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Dancing ladies ginger need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Dancing ladies ginger?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Dancing ladies ginger flower?
- From about June for 9–17 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Dancing ladies ginger poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Dancing ladies ginger?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Dancing ladies ginger. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Pendant sprays of purple-pink bracts with small yellow flowers, like skirted dancers; dormant in the dry season.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Ginger Zingiber officinale
- Turmeric Curcuma longa
- Galangal Alpinia galanga
- Torch ginger Etlingera elatior
- Shell ginger Alpinia zerumbet
- Red ginger Alpinia purpurata
- Beehive ginger Zingiber spectabile
- Siam tulip Curcuma alismatifolia