GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
This Costus is often incorrectly identified as Costus sanguineus or a few other names. The name comes from its natural habitat in the seasonally flooded (varzea) forests of the Amazon basin. Costus varzearum is distinctive by its wavy leaves with purple undersides and dark green upper sides. The foliage is very attractive and tropical looking. It grows to about 5 feet tall in light shade to part sun. The flowers appear from early summer to fall on terminal inflorescenses with green bracts. They are a soft creamy yellow with bright red markings on the labellums.

It can be planted in filtered shade to part sun (up to about 2 hours direct sun) in rich, moist, organic soil. It is reported hardy to zone 9 but may be a bit hardier. I have left it outdoors in my Tallahassee zone 8B garden and it has returned just fine in milder winters. It is important not to keep the soil wet during dormancy, or the rhizomes will rot.

HORTICULTURAL NOTES:


GAINESVILLE TREE FARM - C. varzearum (3') Dk. green lvs. "/burgundy underneath, yellow trumpet flowers

PLANTATION GARDENS - Grows to about 3 feet. Another good one for that low growth habit. The unique characteristic of this one is the dark green leaves with a strong burgundy color on the back. Makes this a really showy plant. The flowers are yellow and trumpet shaped. PICTURE OF FOLIAGE

STOKES TROPICALS - A great looking medium size ginger growing to 3-4 ft in med sun, native of Brazil, very nice looking foliage plant with dark green leaves with maroon undersides. Produces small attractive tubular flowers that have red and yellow throats. Prob zone 9.