CLICK HERE for a detailed botanical description and identification key for this species (opens in new window). BUY THIS PLANT from Gingers R Us (opens in new window). PLANT FAMILY: Costaceae BOTANICAL NAME: Costus scaber FORMAL SCIENTIFIC NAME: Costus scaber Ruiz & Pav. STATUS :Accepted CONTINENT: Neotropical SYNONYMS: Costus anachiri Jacq. (1809), Costus quintus Roem. & Schult. (1817), Costus spicatus Sw. ß anthocono purpurascente... Horan. (1862), Costus cylindricus Jacq. var. ß anachiri ( Jacq.) Petersen in Mart. (1890), Costus ciliatus Miq. (1844), Costus scaberulus Rich. ex L.F.Gagnep. (1902), Costus nutans K.Schum. in Engl. (1904), Costus puchucupango J.F.Macbr. (1931), Costus tatei Rusby (1934), Costus cylindricus auct. non Jacq.: Roscoe (1828), Costus spicatus auct. non Jacq.: Standl. (1928), Costus igneus auct. non N.E.Br.: K.Goebel (1931), BOTANICAL NOTES: This is an accepted neo-tropical Costus species first described in 1798. It is widespread and variable in form resulting in many species names that were put into synonymy with C. scaber by Paul Maas in his 1972 monograph. Costus scaber is described as a plant that grows anywhere from 0.5 meters to 3 meters tall, with variable hairiness and truncate ligules 2-12 mm long. The terminal inflorescence is made up of orange-red to red non-appendaged bracts and tubular flowers orange to yellow. An aid in identification is the minute single row of hairs (requiring a lens for my eyes) along the upper midrib of the leaves. This is not determinative in and of itself because there are other species with the same character, but Costus scaber should always have this line of hairs. Another character, not included in Dr. Maas' description, but consistent in my own observation of this species is that the flower protrudes from the bracts at about a 60 degree angle. There are several other accepted species that are superficially similar to Costus scaber, and it can be difficult to distinguish some of them. Dr. Maas has attempted to break these down by various characters such as the length of the calyx and bracteole and I have reproduced the information in tabular forms that can be found at: The type for this species from Peru has become confused as Dr. Maas found that the specimen had appendaged bracts but the description by Ruis & Pavon was of non-appendaged bracts. The distribution is from Mexico to Brazil and all points in between including the island Hispanola. A query of GBIF data found 975 collection records for this species with collections from as far north as Mexico, south to Bolivia and east to Brazil and Surinam. It differs somewhat in appearance in different locations, but is usually recognizable so long as you distinguish from other similar species like C. spiralis, C. spicatus, C. woodsonii, C. pulverulentus and a few others. After seeing this species in Brazil, Mato Grosso, at Cristalino, I prepared a thumbnail sheet showing the Cristalino plant and comparing against a few other examples of Costus scaber at http://www.gingersrus.com/images/P7466-CristalinoI have set up separate web pages to divide up some of the many photos I have of this species as follows: Additional information about these forms can be found on those separate web pages. OBSERVATION NOTES:CATIE, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.896343, Longitude -83.657587, at meters elevation. Jardin Botanico del Pacifico, BahÃa Solano, Choco, Colombia, Latitude 6.27, Longitude -77.37, at 100 meters elevation. Drake area, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.65, Longitude -83.667, at 150 meters elevation. Cristalino, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, Latitude -9.643024444, Longitude -55.93729472, at meters elevation. Iwokrama, Guyana, Latitude 4.664, Longitude -58.685, at 80 meters elevation. Rio Napo, Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.4, Longitude -73.19, at 95 meters elevation. Maynas Province, Peru, Latitude -3.54, Longitude -73.1, at 90 meters elevation. 1.4 km E of Shapaja, San Martin, Peru, Latitude -6.585, Longitude -76.25, at 260 meters elevation. Finca Ramiro, Rioja Province, Peru, Latitude -6.0697, Longitude -77.147, at 820 meters elevation. Rara Avis, Heredia Province, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Latitude 10.294, Longitude -84.046, at 700 meters elevation. PN Podocarpus, Zamora, Ecuador, Latitude -4.1, Longitude -78.96, at 1000 meters elevation. Cerro Nara, Londres, Santa MarÃa, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.487, Longitude -84.014, at 800 meters elevation. Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.73539, Longitude -83.407939, at 50 meters elevation. Trail between Drake and Rancho Quemado, Osa, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.69287, Longitude -83.6067, at 230 meters elevation. Trail near Cerro Bruja and Rancho Quemado, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.67065, Longitude -83.5827, at 500 meters elevation. Fila Trail, Esquinas Lodge, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.692355, Longitude -83.211488, at 330 meters elevation. Rio Barrigones, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Latitude 8.58269, Longitude -83.4547, at 85 meters elevation. Along road to Simon Bolivar, Leoncio Prado Province, Peru, Latitude -9.24, Longitude -75.814, at 1500 meters elevation. Chinchao, Huanuco, Peru, Latitude -9.660312, Longitude -76.063894, at 1980 meters elevation. Cueva Pumahuassi Road, Leoncio Prado Province, Peru, Latitude -9.19382, Longitude -75.956, at 700 meters elevation. Mallqui, Huanuco, Peru, Latitude -9.609, Longitude -76.031, at 1300 meters elevation. PN Tingo Maria, Gloriapatra Trail, Las Palmas, Peru, Latitude -9.41966, Longitude -75.971, at 725 meters elevation. Santa Rosa, Leoncio Prado Province, Peru, Latitude -9.3779, Longitude -75.954, at 850 meters elevation. Rio Repente, Leoncio Prado Province, Peru, Latitude -9.4955, Longitude -75.9635, at 770 meters elevation. Papilotte, Dominica, Latitude 15.327234, Longitude -61.338143, at meters elevation. GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING: This Costus scaber has proven to be hardy here in USDA zone 8B and is reported hardy up to zone 8A. It grows to about 5-6 ft. tall in a season, and in frost free areas it can grow to as much as 8 ft. tall. It has beautiful tropical-looking medium green leaves with the typical spiraling archictecture that makes all Costus attractive as foliage plants, even without the flowers.
![]() |