Plant Datasheet for Costus claviger (aff. claviger) 'Aloha'

This is sold by Aloha Tropicals as "Costus laviger" (without the C in claviger). This plant seems to fit very well with the Costus aff. Claviger described by Maas in 1977. It has a short truncate ligule, red bracts absent of nectar callus, with green appendages. The bracteole is 20 mm long but the calyx is shorter than described (only 8 mm long). Corolla is white, as described for C. aff. claviger. I believe this plant originated from one of the botanical gardens in Hawaii.

ACCESSION NOTES:
R2943 is the Costus aff. claviger from Aloha Tropicals. The origin of this plant is not known. This collection has been vouchered at the UC Berkeley, Jepsen Herbarium, UC2045835.

GINGERSRUS CATALOG LISTING:
This cultivar is a commonly cultivated form of the species Costus tarmicus, which will likely soon by reinstated as a species separate from its current status as a variety of Costus guanaiensis. It has been grown for many years in Hawaii at Waimea Gardens and Lyon Arboretum and from there has been circulated around the country. It grows to about 1 1/2 meters (4-5 feet) tall and flowers very easily and dependably. I have never tested it outdoors for winter hardiness here, but my guess is that it is not hardy north of USDA zone 9A.