GENUS COSTUS

As a large genus with a wide geographical distribution, they are quite diverse in form. Some Costus species have small tubular flowers, others have broad spreading labellums. Some have foliaceous appendages to the bracts, some are lacking the appendages and are shaped more like a cone. Some plants flower terminally at the top of the leafy stems and some flower below on leafless or nearly leafless stems - sometimes with both flowering forms on the same plant. Some Costus species lie flat on the ground and some are as tall as 5 meters (15 feet) or more. The showy bract colors are green, red or yellow and the flower colors can be almost pure white, red, yellow, orange, pink - with shades that approach nearly any color but blue or black.

As garden plants, most are restricted to frost-free climates, but there are about 8 species that are reliably hardy and can be grown outdoors in areas with light frost. A few of them are compact enough to be grown in pots and stored indoors over winter but most are over two meters tall at maturity. Generally Costus are shade plants that grow in the forest understory in their native habitats, but many will tolerate full sun or nearly full sun given sufficient moisture.

Here I have already broken my own rule and tried to generalize these plants when in reality they are so diverse that it is impossible, so please click on the species links below to read in more detail about individual taxa of this wonderful genus.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THIS REVISION PAGE
The new species names and changes in species status shown here have not yet been peer reviewed and published and they are not yet formally established. They should be considered the opinions of the producer of this website, but are consistent with our current research and preparation for publication of a revision to new world Costaceae.