Wild Ginger - Siphonochilus aethiopicus
Wild Ginger - Siphonochilus aethiopicus

Common names: Natal ginger, wild ginger (English); indungulo, isiphephetho (Zulu); wildegemmer (Afrikaans). 
Botanical name: Siphonochilus aethiopicus

Wild ginger, Siphonochilus aethiopicus, is a rare and endangered plant native to South Africa, with aromatic roots that have various medicinal and traditional uses. It produces beautiful and fragrant flowers at ground level, which attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The plant is used by the Zulu people to protect against lightning and snakes, and to treat asthma, colds, flu and malaria. Wild ginger can be grown in containers or in the garden, in a shady spot with well-drained, compost rich soil. It is dormant in winter and sprouts new leaves in spring.

Uses & Benefits: aromatic, culinary herb, medicine, pot plant

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Nature & Cultivation

Family: Zingiberaceae
Type: geophyte
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Flower colour: mauve, pink
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