Collection: Zingiberaceae (Ginger)

The ginger family is a very large family with 1,800 species of plants. Most grow in shady, moist places where the mist remains, such as in the tropical rainforest.

Some species can tolerate the sun well and grow in open places, usually at higher altitudes. The plants usually produce flowers close to the ground, with the exception of the species that grow in open places, which usually have flowers at the end of the stems. The stems stand proudly upright and have no branches.

Many plants in the ginger family have edible rhizomes - horizontally growing rootstocks - such as ginger, turmeric and krachai. Ginger family members include spices such as cardamom, mbongo and grain of paradise.