Plant Datasheet for Costus erythrophyllus

This species appears to be somewhat variable in nature as there are several forms that fit the botanical description of this species. The most common form in cultivation is a short plant with waxy leaves, dark green on top and deep puple underneath. I saw this form but not in flower in habitat near Iquitos, Peru. Please see the separate web pages for more information on the other forms.
'Silver Leaf' atPID7351
'Grey Ghost' atPID7300
Santa Maria form atPID7584

The HOLOTYPE was collected in 1924 by G. Tessmann from the mouth of the Rio Apaga, in the Maranon River region of Loreto, Peru. This specimen was destroyed in 1943 Berlin so Paul Maas selected a NEOTYPE: cultivated from seeds collected from Rio Moa between Igarape Ipiranga and Aquidaba, Acre, Brazil.

Specimen at NTBG #980543 appears to be the same as the form most commonly found in cultivation. Seed collected by 'Sparrow' and distributed to NTBG via David Orr from Waimea Arboretum. Collected from Aguarico River, Amazonia Ecuador. Elev. 230 m.a.s.l. Understory 'cane' growing in riparian regenerating forest. Beautiful flowers.

ACCESSION NOTES:
I have several accessions of the common cultivated form. R1931 (no longer alive), R2847, R2933 and R2996 all from commercial sources. R3026 came from Atlanta Botanical Garden where it was tagged as Costus atropurpurea (not a valid species name) but looks identical. This species was tested for winter hardiness by Tom Wood near Gainesville, Florida - zone 8b-9, did not survive. R3026 has been vouchered at the UC Berkeley, Jepsen Herbarium, UC2045819.

OBSERVATION NOTES:

Rio Pato, Santa María, Boyacá, Colombia, Latitude 4.88057, Longitude -73.27172, at 976 meters elevation.

Quebrada Cristalino, Santa María, Boyacá, Colombia, Latitude 4.84862, Longitude -73.27213, at 900 meters elevation.

Reserva Natural north of town, Santa María, Boyacá, Colombia, Latitude 4.8838, Longitude -73.2535, at 1200 meters elevation.

Santa Teresa, south of Rio Mazán, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.53, Longitude -73.177, at 120 meters elevation.

San Rafael Indian village, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.556, Longitude -73.11, at 90 meters elevation.

GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
Costus erythrophyllus comes from the Amazon basin of Ecuador and parts of Peru, Columbia and Brazil. There are several somewhat different looking forms, but this is the most common one in US horticulture. This is another Costus that is sometimes incorrectly listed as Costus sanguineus, which is not a valid name in Costus. The leaves are waxy and shiny, with very dark green uppersides and deep burgundy undersides. The flowers have bright red stripes and are quite showy as they are produced both on basal stems and terminally at the end of the leafy stems.

The plant grows to a height of about 3 feet making it suitable for container growing in a greenhouse or outside in zones 10 and higher. I have seen some sources indicating it is zone 9 hardy, but I would not recommend it to be grown outdoors in winter except in frost free areas. It should be grown in part shade, moist, well-drained organic soil.