Curcuma longa

Turmeric Ginger | Non-Native

Light: Morning Sun to Part Shade
Water: Moderate to High
Size: 3–4 ft. tall × 3–4 ft. wide
Harvest: Edible orange-yellow rhizomes
Type: Tropical herbaceous perennial
Native Status: Non-native, native to tropical Asia

A Beautiful Plant with a Flavorful Harvest!

Turmeric ginger (Curcuma longa) brings tropical foliage and an edible harvest to the garden. A member of the ginger family, it produces large, lush green leaves above ground while developing the bright orange-yellow rhizomes used as turmeric beneath the soil.

Turmeric loves warm, humid conditions and grows best in rich soil with consistent moisture. Give it morning sun with some protection from the hot afternoon sun. The rhizomes are typically ready to harvest in fall as the foliage begins to yellow and die back.

Good to Know: This is the culinary turmeric used fresh or dried and ground into the familiar golden spice. It's also easy to grow in containers, although you'll want to give those expanding rhizomes plenty of room!