Kaempferia - Peacock Gingers
Kaempferia angustifolia – plant produces long, narrow,
solid green, strap leaves w/purple iridescent flowers in spring and sometimes in
summer.
Kaempferia atrovirens – Silver Peacock, patterns of
silver, black and brown highlight this shade loving jewel. Flowers are purple and white similar to the K. gilbertii
bloom. Spring bloomer only, but
beautiful foliage for the growing season.
Kaempferia elegans – Green Ripple, solid green leaves are
rippled throughout producing purple iridescent flowers.
Small plant, doesn’t spread.
Kaempferia galanga – rhizomes are a coveted asian spice,
this kaempferia has large (6-8”) solid green leaves that lay flat on the
ground, producing quarter size white flowers with feathered, fuchsia spots in
the throats of the flowers.
Kaempferia gilbertii – green strap leaves with white
margins, producing lilac, maroon, and white flowers in the spring.
Doesn’t spread, so plant close to each other.
Kaempferia gilbertii ‘3D’ – heavily variegated hybrid
of the above, with wider white margins, light green, and dark green in the
center of the leaves. Spring bloomer w/ same flowers as above. Plant close as it
doesn’t spread.
Kaempferia laotica ‘Satin Checks’ – dark green
leaves, with a black checker board pattern throughout the leaf, topped off with
a satin finish. Resembles the puppy
tracks prayer plant, but hardy. Lavendar
flowers similar to K. elegans.
Kaempferia laotica ‘Shazzam’ – one of the loveliest
peacocks with silver, light green and dark green feathered patterns on the
leaves. Purple iridescent flowers
throughout the summer. Not in
production.
Kaempferia pulchra ‘Bronze’ – the only
chocolate-leaved peacock with silver markings on the leaves topped off with a
satin finish. Purple iridescent
flowers contrast boldly with the bronze leaves. Summer bloomer. Doesn’t
spread.
Kaempferia mini – miniature in the size of the leaves,
2” wide, green with silver ripples on the leaves, flowers pink with a dark
maroon lip the size of a quarter. New
Kaempferia pulchra ‘Mansonii’ – the best peacock for
colonizing areas because it readily reseeds and spreads by rhizomes quickly.
Spring patterns are distinct while summer look is solid green, flowers
more than any other peacock. Great
plant!
Kaempferia pulchra ‘Silverspot’ - one of the most
sought after peacocks because of the beautiful silver, turquoise, black and dark
green patterns. This variety gets
12-14” across with purple iridescent flowers. Grow with a single crown for
best effect (like african violets) This
allows the plant to lay flat on the ground for best effect.
Kaempferia pulchra ‘Roscoe Pink’ – one of my
favorites, this plant gets 20-24” across with very distinct black, green, and
chocolate patterns that are feathered on the leaves.
Purple flowers in summer. Holes
in the leaves are caused by either snails or pine needles. Check under the
leaves for insects.
Kaempferia rotunda (flower) ‘Asian Crocus’ – spring bloomer producing beautiful purple and white orchid-like flowers that are very fragrant. Flowers appear like crocus in the spring.
Kaempferia rotunda (foliage) ‘Asian Crocus’ – this is the tallest growing of the group reaching 24” tall. Foliage is long with dark green midrib feathered with silver accenting the dark green and purple undersides.
Kaempferia red leaf – new last year with deep maroon leaves producing white flowers w/fuchsia spots all summer.
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Last Revised
09/14/06