Zingiberales options for colour in sub-tropical spring settings | Discovery | Gardening Australia

Jerry introduces one of his favourite groups of plants for colour and interest through a sub-tropical spring. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
The Zingiberales is an order consisting of eight botanical families, around 70 genera, and 2,600 species, the bulk of which occur naturally in the tropics. This is an important order of plants, both horticulturally, but also economically, as many of them are crops. Take, for example, the members of the Musaceae, or banana family.
The Roma Street Parklands in the heart of sub-tropical Brisbane, has a large Zingiberales collection, and seeing members of this botanical order grouped together reveals more similarities than one may expect. Paul Hoffman, curator of the Roma Street Parklands, explains that "within Zingiberales, many of the plants and their leaves are very large. They are herbaceous perennials in the sense that most of them have little or no woody tissue, and in wetter, tropical areas, many are evergreen". The similarities don't end there - "they are all rhizomatous, meaning the branches arise from modified underground stems.
Canna lilies, family Cannaceae, are a quintessential part of any tropical garden, and are used to great effect in dappled shade, although Paul says they can tolerate much sunnier spots. "There are so many cultivars available, they give great height sitting at about 1m - 2m and stunning, colourful flowers. You can prolong their flower display and dead-head spent blooms - just don't cut too far down the flower spike as there will be more blooms forming further down the stem". Cannas, do not tolerate frost, and, if growing in colder climates, rhizomes can be dug up before first frost and stored to keep warm.
The Strelitziaceae plant family which includes some additional garden favourites - the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) among them. Although similar in appearance to their stable mates, the foliage in this family is tougher, meaning they are far more tolerant of hot-spots, light frost and challenging conditions.
The 'ginger' group of plants within the Zingiberales, which are some of the visitor favourites here at the Parklands" says Paul, "and includes the Marantaceae (prayer plants), Heliconiaceae (heliconias), Costaceae (the spiral gingers) and the largest family of the Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae, the true gingers".
The beehive ginger plant, Zingiber spectabile, "just loves the shade in the Spectacle Garden where we have them planted in large clumps, but for home gardeners, it's a brilliant specimen plant in containers". Like many plants within the order, beehive ginger also makes an excellent cut flower, with the bracts holding both colour and shape for some time once cut.
To get the most out of all these plants try lifting the plants every few years and dividing the rhizomes, thinning them out before replanting. This promotes stronger, healthier growth; bigger, more abundant flowers….plus, you get more plants!". Rich, friable, free-draining soil and a sheltered, shady to dappled shade position is ideal. Ensure, particularly with pot specimens (like the increasingly popular prayer plants including calathea), that the soil is kept moist over the hotter months, and ease right back on the irrigation in the cooler months - they will happily tolerate winter dryness". Regrading fertilising, Paul recommends nothing more than "a controlled release fertiliser over their growing season, and a liquid seaweed foliar feed every month or so". But Pauls top tip for using these plants in the landscape? "Give them space, allow them to show off not just their flowers, but their wonderful, lush foliage".
Featured Plants:
BANANA ‘GOLDFINGER’ - Musa cv.
CANNA LILY - Canna ‘Intrigue’
BIRD OF PARADISE - Strelitzia reginae
GIANT WHITE BIRD OF PARADISE - Strelitzia nicolai *
BEEHIVE GINGER - Zingiber spectabile
TORCH GINGER - Etlingera elatior
PARROT HELICONIA - Heliconia psittacorum ‘Petra’
ORANGE HIDDEN GINGER - Curcuma roscoeana
CAPE YORK LILY - Curcuma australasica
* Check before planting: this may be an environmental weed in your area
Filmed on Turrbal & Yuggera Country | Brisbane, Qld
___________________________________________
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.
Watch more: iview.abc.net.au/programs/gard...
Facebook: / gardeningaustralia
Instagram: / gardeningaustralia
Web: www.abc.net.au/gardening
___________________________________________
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation KZbin channel. Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).

[@astyag8627]

Very informative video, thank you. Greetings from a garden center seller in Armenia

[@JeeoMeter]

Loved this episode.. very informative.. more of this..🙌

[@danaplants]

I love these ❤️ so, so beautiful and good presentation.Thank you so much for your sharing about this ❤️🍀🌍🌹🙏

[@jamshidnikkerdar2074]

Great 👍 👌

[@0anant0]

Helpful info n beautiful garden!

[@FarmerGarden]

Amazing work👍🌲😍🌱

[@Abangsaury]

Nice

[@BARCH-wp5vl]

😍 My favourite planted are Zingiberales ,I have got 7 variety heliconia, musa velutina and other 5 types ,caninas,tourch Ginger ,Lipstick Ginger , . But don't have strelizea reginae ,prayer plant ☹️

[@joshuavinicombe5774]

Great video :) Does anyone know of any public gardens that especially feature Zingiberales in Western Australia?

[@AnimalFriend969]

Can the dwarf variety of “Bird of Paradise” be grown in a spot that is mostly in the shade throughout midday and the the afternoon?

[@andrewst9797]

Well done, Jerry! Thank you. Gardening Australia isn't was it used to be since Peter Cundall's departure - just pandering to the trendy inner-city types nowadays.. Nothing much that's down to earth!

[@adammills9914]

Let’s go Brandon

[@missb4771]

🤣🤣🤣