Kaempferia

( kemp - FER - ee - ah )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of plants is native to China, India, and Southeast Asia, and species are commonly called Peacock Ginger, Peacock Plant, or Resurrection Lily. They form a basal tuft of foliage, and are generally low-growing and clump-forming with rounded leaves (sometimes with mottling). Flowering stalks are topped with pink, red, or white flowers in springtime just prior to or simultaneously with foliage. They will continue flowering through the summer months. Use Kaempferia in shaded mixed beds or borders, as a tropical groundcover, in woodland gardens, or in containers.

Kaempferia Species and Varietals

The genus Kaempferia is a member of the Ginger plant family Zingiberaceae, and includes about 40 species. These platns are glosely related to Boesenbergia, Alpinia, Zingiber, and Curcuma. The genus is named for Englebert Kaempfer, a naturalist who frequented Japan and east Asia. Kaempferia plants do well in USDA zones 8-11. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Kaempferia elegans (Kaempferia laotica) (Silver Spot, Elegant Peacock Ginger, Purple-Flowered Resurrection Lily)
This species produces six-inch leaves with silver markings, hence its common name. Individual plants reach up to 6 inches tall and 15 inches across. They will form clumps over time. Cultivars include 'Green Ripple', 'Satin Checks', 'Brush Strokes', and 'Shazaam'.

Kaempferia galanga (Kencur, Aromatic Ginger, Sand Ginger, Cutcherry, Lesser Galangal, Proh Horm, Sha Jiang)
Native to Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, and India, this species is one of four plants referred to as 'Galangal'. Its rhizome root is commonly dried or powdered, sold in grocery stores or herbal medicine seller stalls. This species does not produce a stem, and has a dark brown, rounded rhizome root. Individual plants reach up to between 12 and 24 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Can survive short freezes to 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kaempferia pulchra (Peacock Ginger, Resurrection Lily)
This highly variable species produces flowers at the same time as foliage emerges in springtime, and keeps flowering through summer and fall before going dormant and losing foliage. 'Bronze' is a choice cultivar with deep burgundy leaves and 'Roscoe' is a white-flowering form of the species. Variety 'Silverspot' has beautiful silver banding on foliage.

Kaempferia rotunda (Bhumi Champa, Indian Crocus, Peacock Ginger, Round-Rooted Galangale, Asian Crocus)
These plants are native to China and the Indian subcontinent and have naturalized in tropical climates like Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Java. They are widely cultivated around the world. It is a classic Ayurvedic medicinal plant, and produces green foliage and pink and white orchid-type flowers that appear before foliage. These plants grow from rhizome roots and will form clumps over time. Hardy to USDA zone 7.

Caring for Kaempferia

Kaempferia plants can be grown from seed, purchased as roots, and can even sometimes be found at specialty nurseries as a specimen. They should be spaced about 10 inches apart for best coverage and airflow, though this varies somewhat depending on the species and cultivar, so make sure to check the plant tag before installing. Choose a spot in the landscape that is sheltered and somewhat humid and receives bright, indirect light. These plants do well under shrubs and trees, and can tolerate some shade, especially when grown outdoors. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish themselves in the landscape. At maturity, these plants prefer to get consistent moisture through the active growing seasons in spring and summertime. Allow soil to fully dry out between waterings to avoid root rot issues. Reduce waterings significantly in fall and winter when plants are dormant.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this application of compost should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune to remove spent flower spikes to clean up the look of plants, and trim off any dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. To ensure that plants have enough energy stored to bloom and grow well in the next season, wait until leaves have fully died back in fall before removing them from the plant. Every few years, especially if these plants are grown in cramped borders or containers, they will need to be divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Kaempferia plants, see the Propagation section below. These plants can survive indefinitely in the landscape, forming clumps over time which spread to create a groundcover. Individual clumps can live for decades before

Growing Kaempferia Indoors
Kaempferia plants can thrive in either indoor or greenhouse spaces, where they prefer to be situated in a space that receives bright, indirect light. They love humidity, and do well in pots placed on pebble trays with water. The ideal temperature range for these plants is between 64 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit; keep them situated away from cool, drafty areas. Choose a pot that is at least 10 inches wide and deep, and fill it with a well-draining substrate such as fine bark or sand and compost. Before planting your Kaempferia, ensure that good drainage is occurring. Water regularly as the root system establishes itself in its new home. Once plants are settled in, they appreciate consistent moisture during their active growing and flowering seasons in spring and summertime. Allow soil to fully dry out between waterings to avoid root rot issues. Fertilize every two months with a balanced fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Every few years, these plants may benefit from division, especially if they are outgrowing their pots. For instructions on how to successfully divide Kaempferia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Harvesting Kaempferia
Kaempferia plants grow from rhizome roots, which are commonly harvested and used similar to Ginger (Zingiber). The best species to cultivate for its aromatic roots is Kaempferia galanga. The best time to harvest plants is in late summer or fall when the plant's above-ground parts die back to the ground. This typically occurs about 6 to 8 months after planting. Working in from the outside of the plant using a garden fork, gently begin lifting the rhizome from the ground. Once it has been removed, brush off any dirt and debris and give it a rinse. The rhizomes can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, or used in curries or chili pastes. The roots can also be dried and used as a condiment; they make a great replacement for Turmeric in curry powder. The powdered root can also be used in aromatic pouches to deter moths in closets.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Kaempferia, or Peacock Ginger, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Peacock Ginger, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Kaempferia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Kaempferia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.