Name:
Curcuma longa (Ginger, turmeric)
Sun:
Partial shade
Mature height:
3 to 4 feet
Dormancy time:
Dies back with hard freezes
Comments:
This ginger, which produces the spice turmeric, produces tall, very beautiful, white flower spikes near the base, if clumps are left undisturbed for a year. Grows best in shaded areas, can be divided and replanted in the spring. Ours has done fine in predominantly clay soil. Can be somewhat invasive, so pots are a good option if you don’t want to dig them up periodically. Our “crop” started from roots purchased at one of the Indian grocers in Tallahassee. The turmeric can be used in cooking, and reputedly has a number of healthful qualities. Yellow stains on the fingers from peeling and cutting fresh turmeric can be removed with effervescent denture cleaner.