🌸 Peacock Ginger (Kaempferia spp.) – The Jewel of the Shade Garden 🌿

Add a touch of tropical elegance to your shaded spaces with the Peacock Ginger, a low-growing ornamental beauty that thrives where most flowering plants won’t. Known for its shimmering leaves and lavender-to-white blossoms that appear close to the ground, this plant offers year-round charm in warm climates — and a lush, spa-like feel to shaded patios or container gardens everywhere.

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🌿 QUICK FACTS

Category	Details
Botanical Name	Kaempferia spp.
Common Name	Peacock Ginger
Plant Type	Perennial ornamental rhizome
Size at Sale	Ships in a 4” pot
Approx. Age	4–6 months from division or tissue culture
Mature Height & Width	6–12” tall × 12–18” wide
USDA Zones	8B–11
Sun Requirements	Partial shade to light shade ☁️🌿
Cold Hardiness	Dormant below ~55°F; hardy to ~20°F with mulch protection ❄️
Growth Habit	Compact, clumping, spreading groundcover via rhizomes
Spacing Requirements	12–18” apart for dense coverage

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🌸 BLOOMS & FOLIAGE

• Flower Color: Soft lavender to white, about 1 inch across
• Bloom Season: Late spring through summer; often reblooming
• Foliage: Rounded, deep green leaves with a subtle metallic sheen — sometimes marked with faint peacock-like striping
• Texture & Habit: Dense, overlapping foliage hugs the ground and forms a natural living mulch

Each flower emerges directly from the soil at the base of the leaves — a delicate surprise beneath the canopy.

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🌱 TOP BENEFITS & USES

• Shade-Loving Groundcover: Thrives in areas too shady for grass or most ornamentals
• Tropical Appeal: Adds an exotic touch to patios, under oaks, or poolside landscapes
• Low-Maintenance Beauty: Minimal pest pressure, drought-tolerant once established
• Container Friendly: Perfect for shaded porches or indoor tropical décor in bright indirect light
• Eco-Friendly: Dense foliage helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture naturally

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🌿 GROWTH HABITS & SEASONAL CYCLE

In warm climates, Kaempferia grows as a deciduous perennial. Expect lush, leafy growth from late spring through early fall, followed by natural dormancy as temperatures drop. 🌬️

• Winter Behavior: Leaves will yellow and die back completely — this is normal! 🍂
• Spring Reawakening: New shoots emerge from underground rhizomes once soil temps reach 65°F+ 🌱

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🪴 CONTAINER & INDOOR GROWING

Peacock Ginger is a dream for container gardeners:

• Use a well-draining, fertile potting mix (add perlite or pine bark fines)
• Keep evenly moist during growth; allow slight drying between waterings in dormancy
• Place in bright, indirect sunlight if grown indoors — avoid harsh midday sun
• Excellent choice for shaded patios, lanais, or screened porches

Recommended container upgrades:

• 4” starter → 1-gallon pot (after first growing season)
• 1-gallon → 3-gallon for lush clumping

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🌿 BEST PRACTICES FOR PLANTING & CARE

When planting outdoors, follow our “High & Tight” GreenDreams Method for success 🌾

🎥 Watch our Fruit Tree Planting Video on YouTube — this method applies beautifully to perennials, too!

Where to Plant:

• Choose partial shade under trees or beside structures with filtered light.
• Prefers moist, rich, well-drained soil — amend with compost & organic matter.
• Avoid soggy or compacted ground.

Planting Steps:

1. Dig a hole only slightly wider than the container.
2. Set the plant level with or slightly above the surrounding soil (“high & tight”).
3. Backfill firmly with native soil mixed with compost.
4. Mulch around (not on) the crown — 2–3” of leaf mulch or pine bark is ideal.

Watering:

💧 Keep evenly moist during active growth (spring–summer).

💦 Reduce watering as the plant enters dormancy.

🌾 Use drip irrigation or hand watering — avoid overhead wetting.

Fertilizing:

• Apply organic fertilizer or worm castings from spring through midsummer only.
• Pause feeding in late fall to encourage dormancy.

Winter Care (Zones 8–9):

• Apply a breathable mulch (straw, oak leaves, or pine needles).
• Ensure excellent drainage to prevent rhizome rot.

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⚠️ CAUTIONS

• Sensitive to prolonged frost or standing water.
• Avoid planting in heavy clay or soggy soil.
• Foliage will die back completely in winter — do not discard the rhizome!

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🌟 IS THIS PLANT RIGHT FOR YOU?

✅ Ideal For:

• Shady garden beds, under oaks & palms
• Tropical or Asian-inspired landscapes
• Container gardeners seeking low-light color
• Florida & Gulf Coast growers

❌ Not Ideal For:

• Full-sun landscapes
• Areas with poor drainage or frequent frost

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🔍 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

⚠️ Issue	🧠 Cause	🌿 Organic Solution
🍂 Yellowing leaves	Seasonal dormancy	🧘 Allow rest; new growth returns in spring
💦 Mushy rhizomes	Overwatering / poor drainage	🪣 Replant “high & tight,” improve drainage
🪲 Leaf damage	Slugs or chewing pests	🐞 Apply neem or use beer traps; maintain mulch airflow
❄️ Cold burn	Frost exposure	🪵 Mulch deeply and cover during cold nights
☀️ Faded foliage	Too much direct sun	☁️ Relocate to dappled or morning light

(Icons follow the GreenDreams Troubleshooting Emoji Legend.)

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SHIPPING DETAILS

🚚 Ships in a 4” container — ideal for Florida, the Southeast, & Texas.

While we ship nationwide, buyers in northern or western states should anticipate a short recovery period after transit, especially during temperature extremes.

⚠️ Shipping Disclaimer:

We ship every Monday via UPS Ground. Buyer discretion is advised during peak heat or cold seasons — we cannot guarantee plant condition due to transit weather extremes.

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LOCAL PICKUP

📍 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM

Stop by our regenerative nursery to see what’s blooming this week! 🌸

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🌿 BEYOND THE PLANT: GREENDREAMS SERVICES

At GreenDreams, we don’t just sell plants — we design, build & restore ecosystems across Florida.

• 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
• 🌾 Full installation & project management
• 🚚 Bulk compost, mulch, & soil delivery
• 🧑‍🌾 Wholesale & large-scale regenerative solutions

Let our team help you craft your own lush, edible paradise — starting with Peacock Ginger! 🌿