Tom Wood, Nurseryman
PO Box 100
Archer, Florida 32618

(352) 495-9168
(fax) (352) 495-3185
EMail gingers@gator.net

GINGERS: NEW PLANTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

--Stunning, new hybrids and introductions available exclusively to your nursery or in your catalog.

--Reliable older varieties available in quantity for propagation or resale.

Plants from the ginger family have been featured recently in publications like Southern Living and Landscape and Nursery Digest, and rightly so. These versatile plants, many of which thrive outside from USDA Zones 7-10, can be used in situations from deep shade to full sun or as house plants. Fragrant or colorful flowers top deep green or variegated foliage in sizes from ground covers to ten foot specimens.

Tom Wood is a world renowned expert on the gingers who has collected and lectured in a dozen countries. He has been breeding these plants for fifteen years and has received awards for many of his hybrids which have become standards in nurseries and gardens. As a result many catalog companies like Wayside Gardens, Stokes Tropicals, and The Plumeria People have featured his hybrids.

Now your company can have exclusive access to new hybrids and introductions from Tom Wood, Nurseryman on a two year contractual basis. These varieties have been tested for hardiness and production information and advice is available. At least 100-200 rhizomes or plants are in stock so that you don't have to be concerned about running out. Rhizomes should be ordered early if you wish to have 500 or more, but small quantities may be ordered from our controlled temperature and humidity storage facility through the end of April.

We are a wholesale only nursery with a minimum order of $200 on domestic orders and $300 foreign.

NEW VARIETIES

SILVER LANCE-(Alpinia pumila)-Exclusive A creeping plant with dark green, leathery leaves held 5" above the ground. The leaves feature silver bands at an angle to the midrib. The foliage can stand freezing temperatures as low as 22 F (-5 C). The small, pink striped flowers appear in early spring. It should be grown in full shade and be well mulched. It is hardy in Zones 8-10.

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM-(Alpinia hybrid)-Exclusive- A new three foot tall plant with dark green leaves and a spike that has strawberry colored bracts and shellike cream yellow flowers with delicate pink lined markings. It is fairly sun tolerant and hardy in Zones 8-10 although it may not flower well in colder locations.

RED LOLLIPOP-(Costus erythrothyrsus)- A compact (24-30" tall) spiral ginger that has many shiny, red three inch spikes either on wiry one foot separate stems or at the end of the leafy shoots. It blooms profusely at any time of the year and the spikes retain their color long after the orange blooms are gone. It's hardiness outdoors has yet to be tested.

BLUSHING SPIRAL-(Costus talbottii)-Exclusive-A graceful, thin spiral ginger with shiny, narrow leaves. Pure white lipped flowers backed by three pink petals are produced both at ground level and from the tips of the two foot stems. What makes it even more interesting is that it will bloom easily in a six inch (15cm) pot at any season in the greenhouse. It hasn't been tested for hardiness yet.

FEATHER BOA-(Curcuma hybrid)-Exclusive-A tall, lanceleaved plant that has long stemmed spikes from spring through fall. The many, dense, narrow, powderpuff pink bracts are stunning. Sun loving and hardy in zones 8-10.

PURPLE GUSHER-(Curcuma hybrid)-Exclusive-A tall, lanceleaved, vigorous, sun-loving hybrid that has the unique property of blooming massively both in the spring separate from the leafy stem and from the center of the plant in the summer. The long-stemmed blooms have white bracts tipped with deep maroon and up to 10" long. Hybrid vigor ensures that this plant will produce two to three times the number of spikes as other Curcumas. It makes a good cut flower and can be grown outside at least from zone 8-10.

MAXIMUM-(Hedychium maximum)-A true giant that grows ten feet tall and has large yellow flowers with pink stamens. Many of the flowers have lips split into two or three lobes and emit a distinctly different fragrance. This is not to be confused with some all white varieties of H. coronarium that have been sold under this name. It is hardy in zones 8-10.

WHITE STARS-(Hedychium stenopetalum)-The largest butterfly ginger (up to 12 feet tall) that sports 18" spikes of ghost white flowers. It has proven to be hardy in zones 8-10.

CARNIVAL-(Hedychium hybrid)-A very stocky 3-4 foot plant with foot long spikes of yellow and orange flowers. Each spike will flower continuously for up to five weeks. It is hardy in Zone 8 and south.

GOLDEN GLOW-(Hedychium hybrid)-A four foot multistemmed plant that blooms gregariously from midsummer through fall. The spikes make a striking show with many clear, bright, Nedicks orange flowers. It's hardy from zone 8 to 10.

STEPLADDER-(Hedychium hybrid)-A short, vigorous plant with closely spaced, wide leaves and a dense spike 8 inches long and 5 inches in diameter featuring spirally arranged shiny, bright gold flowers. Hardy from zone 8-10.

ELEGANT TRUMPET-(Siphonochilus carsonii)-A compact two foot tall plant that puts up several thin spikes that bear many, large, rose flowers with a yellow central spot flanked by deep, maroon stripes. It likes to grow in bright shade and well drained soil. It blooms like clockwork in June and is hardy in zones 8-10.

IVORY SPIKE-(Zingiber eborinum)-A new species from Borneo that is compact (2-3 feet tall) which produces numerous 4" spikes that are creamy, ivory colored with gold flowers. These spikes turn pink and persist for a month after flowering ceases. It grows well in shade and so far is known to be hardy in Zones 9 and 10.

ROSY PINNACLE-(Zingiber sp.)- A large Zingiber (8' tall) that has dozens of long pink spikes (18-24") that are colored at the start of flowering. A potential cut flower bonanza that can be grown in zones 9-10.

Better known varieties-

MAROON KEYS-(Boesenbergia rotunda)-This is an ornamental form of the spice plant this is known as Chinese Keys. It grows to 30" tall in deep shade and the broad, upright leaves are grey-green on one surface and maroon underneath. It's hardy to zone 7 and has small, tubular flowers with red spots on the lip.

RED TOWER-(Costus barbatus)-A vigorous, spiral leaved ginger that grows to seven feet in frostfree areas (zone 9-10). In spring the fuzzy leaved plant begins to bloom with bright red bracts and clear yellow tubular flowers. The spike continues to bloom until August when it can reach a length of eight inches. Plants can be propagated to order in 4" pots with two months advance notice. The plant prefers partial shade to full sun with regular watering and does not suffer in cool temperatures (above freezing).

SPOTTED SPIRAL-(Costus pictus)-One of the three kinds of spiral ginger hardy to zone 8. A strong growing plant to seven feet tall that has waxy, dark green, wavy margined leaves and a stem with red stripes and spots. It can grow well in partial shade to full sun and can take some wind. The flowers are tubular and yellow and brown striped.

EMPEROR-(Curcuma petiolata variegated)-A medium sized (3'), sun-loving plant with broad, ribbed leaves that display a bold, cream-white margin that stripes into the blade. This fast-growing foliage plant also sports light pink inflorescences in the late summer. Grow it in medium to full sun in zones 7-10

AUSSIE PLUME-(Curcuma australasica)-A tall (6'), sun loving plant that has pretty purple red central spikes. These long stemmed blooms make an excellent cut flower that has a two week vase life. Hardy to zone 7.

BRIGHT WHITE-(Curcuma domestica)-A prolific, broadleaved plant that bears broad, white bracted blooms from the center of the plant. It can grow in full summer sun and the flowers can be used as a cut flower that lasts for two weeks. It can tolerate conditions in zone 7 south.

GIANT PLUME-(Curcuma elata)-Another broad -leaved curcuma but with a bright pink spike that comes up separate from the leaves in May or June. The very broad bloom to 14" tall can be sold as a cut flower. It loves sun and is hardy to zone 7.

ORNATE PLUME-(Curcuma ornata)-Tall plant with shiny leaves that feature a reddish, central stripe. It blooms separately in the spring with broad white bracts with purple tips. It is hardy to zone 7 and likes partial shade.

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WINE RED PLUME-(Curcuma rubescens aff.)-Exclusive-This is a tall, broadleaved, sunloving plant with a separate, deep purple bracted spike in the spring. The stem and leaf midribs are a shiny, bright wine red contrasting with the deep green leaves. Thrives from zone 7-10.

SUMATRA-(Curcuma sumatrana)- An oval leaved plant that only grows two feet tall. This plant produces many stems per season each topped with a hot pink, round bracted bloom. The cut blooms last 7-10 days in a vase and 3-4 weeks on the plant. It should have filtered noonday shade and grows well up to zone 8.

YUNNAN PLUME-(Curcuma yunnanensis)-A tall plant with lance shaped leaves having a purplish stripe down the middle. It has blooms featuring many narrow upright bracts that are bright plum colored. It has a long blooming season in zone 8 (July-Oct) and prefers lightly filtered sun.

HOT LIPS-(Curcuma sp.)-Exclusive-A narrow leaved four foot plant that has many ten inch spikes in the spring. They are topped with rounded, shiny, hot pink bracts. This species likes sun and has been shown to be hardy in zones 8-10.

PINK TOWER-(Curcuma cordata)-A short plant with very broad, wavy-edged leaves and giant, foot long flower spikes that feature all-pink waxy bracts. These blooms make excellent cut flowers that are available from June to October outside in zones 8-10.

ORANGE BRUSH-(Hedychium coccineum var. aurantiacum)-A modest sized plant (5') with two close ranks of waxy leaves. The spike features six, precise rows of small orange flowers and three inch orange stamens projecting outward. It grows best when protected from noonday sun in zone 7 south.

TARA-(Hedychium gardnerianum cv. 'Tara')-This lovely variety of the well known Kahili ginger is superior to it in every way. Brought back from the Himalayas by Tony Schilling of Kew Gardens it is the hardiest Hedychium in Britain. It is a large plant (8' tall) with blue waxy stem and leaves that is topped with a footlong spike sporting a mass of flame orange flowers, often two at a time from the bracts. It has the typical gardenialike fragrance of the species but flowers much earlier and longer that it (June-September). Very hardy to zone 7, it would probably do well on the west coast up to British Columbia.

SWEET REED-(Hedychium villosum tenuiflorum)-Exclusive-A thin, narrow leaved, epiphyte from China that has red bracts and white flowers with a very sweet fragrance. The stem has bands of dark red and will bloom in the greenhouse at any time of year. Grow it like an orchid in a mostly bark mix. It's hardiness has not been tested.

DAVE CASE-(Hedychium hybrid)-A tall plant (to 7') topped with a ten inch spike of many pure orange medium sized flowers. It blooms from August through October and is hardy up to zone 7. It likes morning or late afternoon sun and makes a good border or screen planting.

DOUBLE EAGLE-(Hedychium hybrid)-Five to six feet tall and featuring a six inch spike of large coppery gold flowers. Hardy from zone 7 south and blooming from July to September.

FILIGREE-(Hedychium hybrid)-Small (3') multiple stemmed plant with medium sized fragrant gold blossoms. Free blooming from July-October and it makes a good foundation planting up to zone 7.

KINKAKU-(Hedychium hybrid)-Modest sized Japanese hybrid with large, shiny, peach colored blooms. It's hardy through zone 7.

LEMON SHERBET-(Hedychium hybrid)-A tall 8' robust plant with a foot long spike with up to fifty three inch yellow ruffled flowers with a pink stamen blooming at the same time. It blooms from June through September and is hardy as far north as zone 8

PINK FLAME-(Hedychium hybrid)-It's five feet tall with a short spike that has many large, white flowers with a deep rose flamelike spot in the middle of the lip. The flowers are fragrant and it blooms from July through October anywhere in zones 7-10.

PINK SPARKS-(Hedychium hybrid)-About six feet tall with bronze young shoots. The dense spike has many small pink flowers and pincusion like pink long stamens. It's hardy to zone 7 and flowers from August to October.

PINK V-(Hedychium hybrid)-A dependable hybrid that has dense, fragrant spikes of cream flowers with a deep pink center. Spikes bloom for a long duration and also from June to November. Hardy in zones 7-10.

TROPIC BIRD-(Hedychium hybrid)-Exclusive-A very strong growing plant only 18" high but with footlong waxy leaves. It grows very well as a potbound dome shaped specimen. The free blooming flower spikes have bracts covered with golden hair and waxy flowers that curve backwards and have the amazing property of lasting for four or five days and they change color from white initially to cream to gold. The flowers have a strong, spicy, clovelike scent and flower in flushes, simutaneously with peak flowering from September to February, making them an ideal greenhouse flower crop where they maintain good blooming and foliage even when minimum temperatures are set to 45-50 degrees. Outdoors it survives in zones 8-10 with mulching.

WHITE STARBURST-(Hedychium hybrid)-This plant is six feet tall and has a ring of ten medium sized white, fragrant flowers in a pinwheel like ring. It blooms in September through November and is hardy outdoors from zone 7 south.

TRUE ROSCOE-(Kaempferia roscoeana)-Huge, ground hugging, lightly variegated leaves (up to 12X7") and two inch pure white flowers all summer long make this a bold groundcover in deep shade. Don't confuse this with the purple flowered plant sold for many years as K. roscoeana. It's hardy to zone 8.

SHAZZAM-(Kaempferia laotica cv.)-This has very boldly variegated leaves featuring rows of dark maroon checks on a silver background with a light green margin. The stunning six inch leaves are held four inches above the ground with purple, cloverleaf shaped flowers on reddish stalks. It thrives in deep shade and has been tried in zones 8-10.

ASIAN CROCUS-(Kaempferia rotunda)-A shade loving plant with lance shaped leaves that have a silver variegation on the front and maroon on the back. The 18" tall plant has two inch purple and white flowers in bunches at ground level before the leaves come up in April or May. Hardy up to zone 7.

BRONZE PEACOCK-(Kaempferia pulchra)-A grouncover for deep shade with round bronze leaves with silver spotting. Purple four 'petaled' flowers appear daily from midsummer to early fall. Hardy from zones 7-10.

SATIN CHECKS-(Kaempferia species)-This groundcover has bright green leaves with three rows of purple-black checkerboard spots and a satinny sheen. Small purple flowers appear in summer and it is hardy at least to zone 8.

SILVERSPOT-(Kaempferia pulchra)-A very bold silver, bronze and green selection of peacock plant that is more vigorous and hardy. It also has purple flowers and could make a good houseplant as it doesn't go dormant in the winter. Hardy zones 7-10.