GENUS COSTUS
Costus are easilly distinguished from other commonly cultivated gingers because the leaves spiral around the main stem like a circular stairway. In fact they are called "spiral gingers". The Costus species are rich and varied in form, flower and growing conditions. There are short mounding forms, spreading forms and upright forms. Height ranges from about a foot up to ten feet or more. Flower colors and shapes are also varied, from the soft white "Crepe Ginger" (C. speciosus) to the bright orange "Fiery Costus" (C. cuspidatus) which can bloom year round in frost-free areas. There are shade lovers and sun lovers, hardy and non-hardy - a rich pool of gingers to choose from.
Sometimes Costus are still listed with other gingers in family Zingiberaceae, but generally they are accepted classified in a separate plant family, Costaceae, along with Dimerocostus, Monocostus and Tapeinochilos. I have added a new page that contains the identification key and botanical descriptions of many Costus, at http://www.gingersrus.com/botanical/description.php.
