General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7b -15 °C (5 °F) to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 4-6 feet
Plant Spread: 3-5 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Other: 1 to 4 inch long pine cone shaped flower head with small yellowish-white blooms appearing between the bracts. The flower head is green, maturing to bright red and is filled with a clear, fragrant liquid.
Flower Color: Other: Pale yellowish-white
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Culinary Herb
Medicinal Herb
Cut Flower
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Roots
Eating Methods: Culinary Herb/Spice
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant

Image
Common names
  • Shampoo Ginger
  • Pinecone Ginger
  • Pine Cone Ginger
  • Pinecone Lily
  • Pine Cone Lily
  • Ginger

Photo Gallery
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-10-17
Hurricane may have knocked down the plants but the cones are popp
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Date: November
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-08-27
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2019-09-17
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Date: November
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: October 
zingiber zerumbet
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-08-27
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2021-08-13
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2021-09-23
Photo by beachhutch
Location: My garden
Date: 2018-08-16
Location: Tampa FL
Date: 2018-09-29
Location: Fountain Florida
Date: 2021-08-04
New...not fully formed pinecone yet
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2021-08-13
Location: my garden, Sarasota FL
Date: 2014-09-15
Gently squeezing the cones at this stage gives gingery smelling g
Location: Fountain Florida
Date: 2021-08-04
Location: Tampa FL
Date: 2018-09-30
Liquid produced from squeezing mature cone. Use for shampoo, skin
Location: Starkville, MS
Date: 08/04/2012
Flower \"cone\" of Shampoo Ginger
Location: My garden WG frt master window 
Date: 2018-07-28
Location: Our yard, DeLand, FL
Date: 2018-08-18
Location: Port Orange, FL
Date: 2016-10-22
Something pretty after Hurricane Matthew passed.
Location: Port Orange, FL
Date: 2016-11-07
I just love this plant!
Location: Houston area
Date: 2019-08-11
Young bloom
Location: McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, Florida
Date: 2016-11-06
Location: Atlanta BG
Date: Aug 16
Location: Port Orange, FL
Date: 2016-10-22
So cool, they're almost unreal!
Location: United States Botanical Garden | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26
Location: my garden near dr Moy 
Date: 2017-07-06
Location: Port Orange, FL
Date: 2016-11-07
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2013
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Date: November

By Rufous-crowned Sparrow via Wikimedia Commons

Date: 2018-07-16
Location: my garden 
Date: 2014-07-29
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: August 2013
Location: Kaua'i
Date: 2014-06-24
Location: Tampa FL
Date: 2018-09-30
Location: my garden, Sarasota FL
Date: 2014-07-18
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-10-04
Patch of ginger
Location: Mysore, India
Date: 2014-09-16
Single flower.
Location: McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, Florida
Date: 2016-11-06
Location: McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, Florida
Date: 2016-11-06

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissio
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissio
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissio
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: my garden 
Date: 2014-07-29
Location: my garden 
Date: 2014-09-23
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by dyzzypyxxy (Sarasota, Fl) on Aug 23, 2014 6:28 PM concerning plant:
    The actual flowers on this ginger are the little white or cream lily-like blooms that come out of the pinecone shaped flower head. The "pinecones" arise on separate stems from the leaves. After the flowers finish blooming, and the "pinecones" turn red, the ginger-y scented gel "shampoo" can also be used as a temporary insect repellent. The plant blooms much more generously in my garden with lots of water early in the growing season, May into June. Fertilize generously at the end of May with a timed-release product to encourage lush growth through the summer. The leaves die back completely to the ground as soon as the nights drop below 50deg.
  • Posted by Kevalsha (Astatula, Florida - Zone 9a) on Oct 23, 2017 4:45 AM concerning plant:
    My shampoo ginger is growing very well in part shade. I use it when I am in the garden for washing my hands and face. I use it for shampoo also. It is very interesting because the flower looks like a red pine-cone and the little flowers are a pale yellow, resembling a small orchid.
  • Posted by Dutchlady1 on Aug 17, 2013 8:46 AM concerning plant:
    Squeezing the mature blooms releases a fragrant gel-like substance that can be used to wash and condition your hair, hence the name.
Plant Events from our members
Seedfork On September 28, 2016 Obtained plant
Gift plant from Peace On Earth Gardens
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Untitled by sarahbugw Aug 20, 2013 6:28 AM 2
Very interesting by Toni Jul 6, 2017 1:24 PM 1
Correct database entry? by plantladylin Oct 23, 2022 10:27 AM 2

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