Curcuma Tulips from the Tropics

The Curcuma genus of plants includes the edible spice Curcuma longa, better known as turmeric. It also includes these lovely tropical plants, Curcuma alismatifolia (Siam tulip) that are grown indoors in colder regions and also out in the garden in warmer climates.

As part of the ginger family of plants that come originally from Asia, Siam tulips are grown from rhizomes that sprout tall stems of tuliplike leaves with pink, rose and red curved bracts forming at the ends with tiny flowers appearing on the lower bracts from spring through to autumn. In the right conditions they will produce 3 – 5 flowers which last up to 3 weeks.

Planting in the garden Once they have finished flowering indoors and start to go into the dormant stage, they can be planted out into the garden for a splash of colour come springtime.