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Accession Data:

Costus comosus var. bakeri (K.Schum.) Maas

  • Common Name: Spiral Ginger
  • Family: Costaceae (K. Schum.) Nak.

  • Country of Origin: S. Mexico to Ecuador
  • Habitat: wooded slopes of volcanos between 600 and 1300 m

  • Description: Spiral leafed 6' to 12' with huge 7" to 13" tall deep red inflorescence with large yellow flowers.

  • Uses: Popular as a cut flower lasting over a month.
  • Culture: Medium to bright indirect light, plenty of water during active growth.
  • USDA Zone: 9-10

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 200000064
  • Source: NYBG
  • Provenance:
    Plant acquired from NYBG (#1413/91) as Costus barbatus - no provenance information available. 
    
    Most plants in the trade as Costus barbatus appear to be a form of Costus comosus var. bakeri which our accession appears to be, so name updated to reflect this.
    
  • Accession Date: 09-21-2000
  • Bench: 1305 - NEOA: Ground Bed 1 NW
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 2 confirmed on 01-30-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: commelinids
  • Order: Zingiberales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Costaceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

References (internal):

  • EEB 3203 - Developmental Plant Morphology
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Mexico Southwest / Mexico Southeast / El Salvador / Guatemala / Panama / Colombia / Ecuador

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed 21 October 2015.
  2. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed 21 October 2015.
  3. Costus barbatus at IUCN Redlist. Last accessed 21 October 2015.
  4. Costus comosus var. bakeri at Gingers R Us. Last accessed 21 October 2015.

data regenerated on Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:06:06 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Costus comosus var. bakeri

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Costaceae

  • Chamaecostus cuspidatus
  • Cheilocostus speciosus W/C
  • Costus asplundii
  • Costus bracteatus
  • Costus chartaceus W/C
  • Costus dubius
  • Costus lasius
  • Costus lateriflorus
  • Costus phaeotrichus W/C
  • Costus pictus
  • Costus productus
  • Costus scaber
  • Costus spectabilis
  • Costus spicatus W/C
  • Costus tappenbeckianus
  • Costus tonkinensis
  • Costus vargasii
  • Costus vinosus W/C
  • Costus afer
  • Costus aff. guanaiensis
  • Costus comosus var. bakeri
  • Costus malortieanus
  • Costus pulverulentus
  • Costus woodsonii
  • Dimerocostus strobilaceus
  • Monocostus uniflorus
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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