Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Cheilocostus speciosus
Crepe Ginger
The cane-like stems of Cheilocostus speciosus spiral as they grow, carrying dark green lance-shaped leaves in a slow helix from base to tip. In summer each stem is topped by a red cone of bracts from which crisp white flowers emerge one at a time, with the crumpled texture that gives the plant its common name.
It builds a clump 1.5 to 2.5 metres high and works best as an understorey mass in filtered light, where the spiral stems and the flower cones both read clearly.
Specifications
- Height1.5 to 2.5 metres
- Width1.0 to 2.0 metres, spreading by rhizome
- Native toSoutheast Asia and the Indian subcontinent
- FoliageDark green lance-shaped leaves arranged spirally on cane-like stems; herbaceous, dying back in cool or dry conditions
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers moist, humus-rich, free-draining soils
- LightPartial shade, or full sun where moisture is reliable
- WaterModerate to high; needs consistent moisture through the growing season
- ClimateThrives in humid tropical and subtropical regions
Additional Features
- FlowersCrisp white crepe-textured flowers emerging from a red bract cone in summer
- UsesTropical understorey massing, courtyard and poolside beds, and shaded borders
- SpacingPlant 0.8 to 1.0 metres apart for a continuous clump
- Low MaintenanceCut spent canes to the ground at the end of the season and divide when congested
- Pest ResistanceGenerally untroubled where drainage and airflow are adequate
- Cultural SignificanceLong used in South and Southeast Asian traditional medicine and ritual planting
- VersatilityEffective as a mass, a container subject or a screening clump under canopy
Crepe Ginger delivers a strong tropical understorey texture with a distinctive summer flower.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026