Interflora flowers

Curcuma FlowerIts name comes from ‘kurkum’, the Arabic word for yellow, which refers to the colour of the rhizomes or the flowers of Curcuma longa.

Description
Its inflorescence on the upper bract comes in pink, lilac or white. Its small flowers are found in the lower green bract and, interestingly, it has a sweet and spicy scent to it.

Habitat
The Curcuma originates from South East Asia and this is epitomised by its natural elegance. The Siam Tulip, for example, which is actually part of the ginger species and not related to the tulip, is native to Thailand and Cambodia.

Availability
It is available for a good quarter of the year, from spring right through to autumn. Moreover, it will survive the winter but its flowers will, of course, wilt until spring comes round again.

Species
The Curcuma is a genus in the Zingiberaceae family that comes in a variety of different colours and sizes. It is part of the ginger family, which is estimated to have over 70 species. The actual number of species, however, is unclear – it could lie beyond 100.

Care Tips
The bloom can last up to 22 days, so they are good plants to have in the house if they are well kept. They survive best in tropical conditions so, if they are to be kept inside, they need humidity. Gravel can be added to the tray of the curcuma plant to help this along – the water should be at the same level as the gravel.

Did you know?

  • Curcuma is part of the ginger family and is closely related to turmeric, which is the principal ingredient in curry powder. The proper name for turmeric is curcuma longa.
  • Turmeric is a good antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory properties, which means that is often used for treating arthritis.

References
http://www.pureinsideout.com/turmeric-curcuma.html
http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Shopping/flower-facts/Curcuma-20
http://www.gardenguides.com/82362-curcuma-plant-care.html