The flowers produce nectar which attracts ants, hummingbirds, sunbirds, and bees that help pollinate the flowers. Red button ginger plants also produce small capsule-like fruits which contain black seeds. These cylindrical spikes can be 12-15 cms long tapering towards the tip when they become older. The inflorescence is made up of bright, glossy, red bracts that are shaped like large lipstick tubes, with orange-red flowers projecting from inside the bracts. It is the beautiful inflorescence that gives the plant its name, Red button ginger. Red button ginger leaves are glossy and dark green on the upper surface and paler on the lower surface. They are elliptical with a sharp pointy end and are about 20-25 cms long.
Leaves are thick, fleshy, leathery, alternate, with no stalk, and spirally arranged along the tall stem. These decorative, funky plants can reach a height of 1-2 meters with thick, succulent stems which are slightly spiral. Red button ginger plant in bloom looks like it has tiny red missiles ready for launch, positioned on stems all over the plant. Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or OriginĬlick on a photo to see a larger version.Common name: Red button ginger, Indian head ginger, Spiral ginger, Red cane ginger, Scarlet spiral flag, Red button costus, Dwarf cone ginger, Panama candle plant, Red cane, Dwarf French kiss.This species is native to the tropical Americas. See more at How to Grow and Care for Costus. Some larger species can grow to 10 feet (3 m) or more, so be aware of the potential size issue. If you want to keep it a manageable size, use this as an opportunity to divide the rhizome and refresh your potting soil, but keep it in the same size pot. Severely infected plants should be discarded.ĭepending on the species, you'll probably need to repot your Costus annually at the beginning of the growing season. Keep a careful eye on your plants, inspect them to catch infestations early, and treat them immediately. Costus are susceptible to mealybugs and aphids. Try to raise the humidity and increase the water. If your plant starts to suffer from brown leaf margins, it most likely is being underwatered or exposed to cold drafts. They aren't terribly picky about their light, but the key to successful growth is lots of water and fertilizer to keep up with their heavy demands. How to Grow and CareĬostus fall into the tropical category, so if you do well with philodendrons and other tropical plants, you should be able to grow Costus without too much issue.
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