Now this is a really unusual ginger. The leaves are the same size as many of the other Costus species, but the stems are extremely short. The effect is a low ground cover with large mule ear like leaves. The large, paper thin, delicate flowers are spectacular, and smell like lemons. This species was recently reclassified in the genus Chamaecostus, but most of the literature on it still has it placed the older genus Costus, so I will use both names interchangeably until the new classification becomes widely used.
Origin
Brazil
Binomial nomenclature
Chamaecostus subsessilis (formerly Costus subsessilis)
Common names
None
Description
Chamaecostus subsessilis is a low growing ginger with extremely short true stems. The twelve inch long, light green, fuzzy leaves are arranged spirally around the short fleshy stem. The large, briliant yellow, fragrant, flowers, have a sparkly sheen, and have the appearance of being made out of crepe paper. They go completely dormant in the dry season.
Height
4-8″
Temperature/Zone
Zone 9, 28°F or higher. In zones lower than 9, they can be wintered indoors while they are dormant. Simply allow the soil to dry out, and store them in a cool dry place. I dig them up once the foliage has died back, and store them in a paper bag until spring.
Light
Shade to part shade.
Water
Keep them evenly moist during the warm months, but allow them to dry out completely during the winter.
Fertilizer
I use fertilizer formulated for tomatoes on my gingers. It has the phosphorus that they need for proper rhizome development.
Cultivation
C. subsessilis prefers rich, well drained soil.
Pests
Scale insects sometimes attack C. subsessilis, particularly the inflorescences.
