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Zingiberaceae
Torch Ginger
Etlingera elatior
Fiery passion, exotic beauty, abundance.
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
- Genus
- Etlingera
- Native to
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
- Bloom season
- Year-Round In Tropics
- Type
- tropical perennial
- Height
- 3–6 m
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- Regular; high humidity
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Did you know
- Torch ginger flowers emerge directly from the ground on tall stalks, blooming separately from the leafy stems above.
- In Malaysian and Thai cooking, torch ginger flower buds are an essential ingredient in dishes like laksa and salads — known as 'bunga kantan.'
- The flowering structure can reach 30 cm in diameter and resembles a flaming torch — hence the name.
- It's one of the most photographed tropical flowers in the world, beloved by botanical gardens and floral designers.
- Torch ginger plants can grow over 6 m tall, with fragrant glossy leaves used as natural food wrappers in Southeast Asia.