Plant Datasheet for Costus woodsonii

This species is found in cultivation in two different forms, most popular is a dwarf form that flowers at about 1 meter tall but is also found in a taller form (more common in nature) that grows to 2-3 meters tall.

In nature, it is found along the Caribbean coast of southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama growing at low altitudes (under 100 meters) and even growing in sandy soil on the beach right up to the edge of the water along the coast. I have seen this species growing in Costa Rica at Cahuita National Park and in Panama along the coast near the Rio Piedra. It has been reported along the Pacific coast of Colombia but I did not find it at the reported site and I believe it was confused with Costus scaber that does grow there.

In 2014 I completed an IUCN Red List assessment for this species and found it to be of "Least Concern". The assessment can be found at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/56349436.

ACCESSION NOTES:
I have three different accessions of this species. R2692 is the dwarf form that is most common in cultivation. R2944 is a tall form from a cultivated plant in Hawaii and the origin is unknown. R2995 a tall form from a collector in South Florida, origin unknown. All three flower easily growing in a 3 gallon container, but have not been tested here for cold hardiness. Based on the natural habitat, I believe this species must be very salt tolerant. R2995 has been vouchered at the UC Berkeley, Jepsen Herbarium, UC2045831.

OBSERVATION NOTES:

Coatal hwy, .5 km south of Rio Piedra, Colon, Panama, Latitude 9.449097778, Longitude -79.74280028, at 15 meters elevation.

Cahuita National Park, Limón Province, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.734, Longitude -82.834, at 5 meters elevation.

Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica, Latitude 9.735, Longitude -82.836, at 0 meters elevation.

GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
Costus woodsonii comes from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama. I have seen it the Cahuita National Park in Costa Rica growing right up to the edge of the beach in sandy soil, and it must be incredibly salt tolerant.

Some forms are about 2 meters tall but others are shorter, maturing and flowering at about 1 meter. It has bright red bracts and tubular red flowers with a very small opening to the labellum. It can fill an area and makes a showy garden plant. It grows best in sunny areas.