Siam tulip Curcuma alismatifolia
Siam tulip (Curcuma alismatifolia) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family, native to Northern and NE Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (seasonally dry grassland and open forest). It grows 40–70 cm (16–28 in) tall and 30–50 cm (12–20 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Siam tulip in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Siam tulip at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Mature height | 40–70 cm (16–28 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, 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 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Northern and NE Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (seasonally dry grassland and open forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Siam tulip 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 Siam tulip
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Siam tulip in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (12 plants)
Questions about Siam tulip
- How far apart should I plant Siam tulip?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).
- Does Siam tulip need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Siam tulip need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Siam tulip?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Siam tulip flower?
- From about May for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Siam tulip 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 Siam tulip?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Siam tulip. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
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.
- Pink tulip-like bracts on a slender stalk in the rainy season; the leaves die back and the rhizome rests through 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
- White ginger lily Hedychium coronarium