Cardamons - how hardy are they

xyzzy · 01-27-2009, 06:18 AM

Hi,

I bought a plant named as Amomum cardamomum from a dodgy DIY shop garden centre.

It looks like a ginger, but the recent unexpected frost of -9 degrees C has killed all the leaves and stems of all my other types of gingers.

The plant sold as Amomum cardamomum has gone through totally unscathed and still has it's leaves.

Any ideas what it really might be?

paradisi · 02-08-2009, 10:31 PM

cardamom is tropical so should die in frosts

I bought a "cardamom" in Australia from an up till then reputable nursery and it turned out to be a posionous and very invasive type of ginger - that took two years to eventually kill off

I'd stick to a reputable retailer or nursery to try and get a true cardamom - otherwise you could end up poisoning yourself

Steve L · 02-09-2009, 10:59 AM

The ginger Alpinia Nutans has frequently been confused with Amomum Cardamomum. It is a foliage plant growing 3 to 4 feet. It almost never blooms. (Mine bloomed for the first time in 10 years last year). The leaves are spice scented when rubbed. It is hardy to zone 7. Shade plant. I bet you 10 bucks that's your plant. I thought I had a picture in my gallery but don't see it. I'll check my Photobucket account later.

Steve

xyzzy · 02-09-2009, 11:08 AM

I could be. It does seem to thrive in shade, but will tolerate sun too, and drought.

01-27-2009, 06:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 31,282 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Cardamons - how hardy are they Hi, I bought a plant named as Amomum cardamomum from a dodgy DIY shop garden centre. It looks like a ginger, but the recent unexpected frost of -9 degrees C has killed all the leaves and stems of all my other types of gingers. The plant sold as Amomum cardamomum has gone through totally unscathed and still has it's leaves. Any ideas what it really might be? __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

02-08-2009, 10:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
paradisi The news from Dicky Beach paradisi's Photo Gallery Location: Dicky Beach, Australia Find me on the map! Name: paradisi Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 107 BananaBucks : 102,559 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 82 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cardamons - how hardy are they cardamom is tropical so should die in frosts I bought a "cardamom" in Australia from an up till then reputable nursery and it turned out to be a posionous and very invasive type of ginger - that took two years to eventually kill off I'd stick to a reputable retailer or nursery to try and get a true cardamom - otherwise you could end up poisoning yourself __________________ The universe is my eyes and ears. All else is hearsay.

02-09-2009, 10:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 48,943 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Cardamons - how hardy are they The ginger Alpinia Nutans has frequently been confused with Amomum Cardamomum. It is a foliage plant growing 3 to 4 feet. It almost never blooms. (Mine bloomed for the first time in 10 years last year). The leaves are spice scented when rubbed. It is hardy to zone 7. Shade plant. I bet you 10 bucks that's your plant. I thought I had a picture in my gallery but don't see it. I'll check my Photobucket account later. Steve

02-09-2009, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 31,282 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cardamons - how hardy are they I could be. It does seem to thrive in shade, but will tolerate sun too, and drought. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)