Alpinia formosana
12th May 2007
I have had it for a while, but it has taken a long time to get going. This is its second season, and it is only now starting to produce significant growth. I had assumed that it would
prefer quite high temperatures, but in fact it seems to be quite cold tolerant. Like most Alpinias, it flowers on second year growths, so the canes have to be kept growing
through their first winter. Too much cold, and although the leaves survive, the tips die out and so the potential for flowers is lost.
The white striped leaves make it an impressive foliage plant (eventually).