BLUE GINGER

—CAUTION: The juice is somewhat acrid, so use caution when handling this plant, especially when applying it as an external medicine [see medicinal notes below]. Do not rub the juice in your eyes after contact. 

MEDICINAL USES:  “The entire plant contains sticky, acrid juice.”  Used medicinally in Brazil: Anti-rheumatic, emollient, diuretic.  Recommended decoction of 5 grams of the stems and leaves in a cup of boiling water (PlantasQueCuram).  The leaves are used more often than the stems. 
CUT FLOWER: As the flowers tend to last a long time, they may be cut and placed in flower arrangements. 

—NATIVE TO: North, Central & South America.  

—DESCRIPTION: A popular ornamental evergreen perennial 5-8 feet tall. Many healthy clumps are grown in the shade at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida.  Not a true ginger, actually a spiderwort. 
- FLOWERS: Strikingly beautiful deep royal blue long-lasting flowers in spires. 
- STEMS: Pretty spotted stems. 
- ROOTS: Rhizomatous. 
CULTURE: 
- LIGHT: Partial to light shade is best. 
- HARDINESS: Not heavy frost tolerant. 
- WATER: Moderately drought tolerant. 
- SOIL: They tolerate poor soils but do best when planted in rich, moist soil. 
- PRUNING: “Lucy Hoyt, Master Gardener, cuts hers back by half in the spring, even though this is sometimes lower than the leaves.  Hers grow back thick and bloom abundantly.” – Monica Brandies, Brandon, FL. 
- PROPAGATION: Propagate by cuttings, division or seeds