Costus Curvibracteatus aka Orange Tulip Ginger

Costus is a group of perennial herbaceous plants in the family Costaceae. It is widespread through tropical and subtropical regions.

Costus Curvibracteatus is a tropical rhizomatous perennial, a member of the spiral ginger family of plants. They are very common here - cultivated as a decorative landscape and garden plant. Its common name is Orange Tulip Ginger. It is also sometimes referred to as spiral ginger.

“An evergreen perennial, the large leaves of Costus Curvibracteatus can be effective ground cover, ranging in size from 15 to 35 centimetres long and 5 to 10 cm wide. They are glossy and glabrous above, but hirsute on the edges and underside, and alternately arranged on a spiralling stem, which has a diameter about 1.5 to 2.5 cm.” - Wikipedia

During flowering, small, hermaphroditic yellow or orange tubular florets emerge among the bracts. They don’t bloom at the same time. I have never seen an inflorescence with all florets booming.

Detail of the florets and bracts of a flowering Orange Tulip Ginger.

Glossy, overlapping bracts form a terminal inflorescence, that is spike-shaped to ovoid. The bracts are red to orange, usually becoming more orange at the apex, which curves outward.

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