Tricolor Ginger Plant Information

Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar,' also known as Triostar ginger, Stromanthe Tricolor or tricolor ginger, actually is not a ginger but a relative of the prayer plant. Enthusiasts grow this Brazilian native for its attractive variegated foliage.

Identification

Tricolor ginger plants, which have an upright clumping form, grow approximately 3 feet tall with a 2-foot spread. Their thick, shiny and oval leaves have a mixture of green, creamy-white and reddish-pink hues. Mature plants produce waxy pink blossoms.

Outdoor Cultivation

Tricolor ginger plants are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture Zone 8. Outdoor plants can tolerate shade, but they are not frost hardy, and they may suffer leaf burn if exposed to harsh sunlight. Slugs and caterpillars feed on the foliage.

Indoor Cultivation

Tricolor ginger plants work well as indoor container plants. They prefer high humidity and plenty of water. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Chihuly Collection website recommends keeping the plant continuously moist by placing it in a gravel tray filled with water regularly misting the plant to increase its humidity level.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Stromanthe Tricolor
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Chihuly Collection: Triostar Ginger

Resources

• The United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map