Red ginger Alpinia purpurata
Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family, native to Moluccas, New Guinea and the western Pacific islands (rainforest). It grows 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) tall and 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart.
Plan Red ginger in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Red ginger at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.2 m (3.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Moluccas, New Guinea and the western Pacific islands (rainforest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Is Red 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 Red ginger
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
See Red ginger in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (4 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (4 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (6 plants)
Questions about Red ginger
- How far apart should I plant Red ginger?
- About 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
- Does Red ginger need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Red ginger need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Red ginger?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Red ginger flower?
- From about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Red 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 Red ginger?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Red ginger. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part 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.
- Erect heads of glossy red bracts (the tiny white flowers hide between them) all year; plantlets sprout from old heads.
- 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
- Beehive ginger Zingiber spectabile
- Siam tulip Curcuma alismatifolia
- White ginger lily Hedychium coronarium