Followings are the most commonly grown gingers : ALPINIAS – Called the "shell" gingers due to the seashell form of the flowers. Come in all sizes from small to large. Leaves are frequently fragrant. Most bear large clusters of fragrant, stunning blooms. Like medium to full sun, Many can overwinter without special care (except spp A. sanderae is tender and needs protection). All make good pot plants. A. zerumbet variegata is a boldly yellow streaked selection that adds outstanding garden color and has become a favorite in the nursery trade. BOESENBERGIAS – Mostly small gingers, less than 3' high. Some have attractive flowers but most are grown for foliage. Likes shade. Some make nice pot plants. BRACHYCHILUM - Resembles and once was classified as an Alpinia. Tall upright stems to 5" surrounded by lush leaves to 12 in. long, the terminal flowers are greenish white and produce ornamental orange-red colorful fruit . The only species is "horsfeldii". COSTUS -- Called "spiral" gingers. Have true stems and spirally arranged foliage. Flowers attract hummingbirds. Medium to full sun. Flower petals open from a cone on the terminus of the stem. Depending on species, some get very tall, others are very short. Costus speciosus and spiralis overwinter well in Houston. Other species may be more tender. CURCUMAS -- Known as "hidden" gingers, Curcumas are broad leafed plants with very colorful flowers which tend to be hidden among the large textured foliage. The flowers are exotic, large and range from white to pink to orange and shades of violet. Curcumas generally overwinter well along the gulf coast but some species are very tender (e.g. some exotic varieties from southeast Asia). DICHORISANDRA - Not a true ginger but is so similar, it is called ginger. Arching stems are covered with deep green whirling leaves showing silver variegation. This plant produces tight upright clusters of vibrant deep violet-blue flowers in late summer and is root hardy in zone 9. You'd never know it wasn't a ginger!! ELETTARIAS - Known as Cardamon ginger, this plant produces a wonderful spicy aroma when leaves are brushed or torn. The foliage is shiny green, upright and attractive in any garden. Although a tall (5') plant, there is a dwarf form that stays less than 2 ft. Cardamons like partial sun and are hardy into the 20 degree range. Flowers are attractive, but infrequent. GLOBBAS -- These are small shade plants, most 2 feet or less in height. All have attractive foliage and flowers which are uniquely different from any other ginger. They resemble dancing ballerinas as they hang in clusters. Globbas reseed rather rampantly and the most common species are "bulbosa" with yellow blooms and "winitii" with yellow and purple blooms. HEDYCHIUMS -- Called "butterfly" gingers, these are perhaps the easiest to overwinter and the showiest of flowering gingers with clusters of butterfly shaped blooms on top of long stems which are very fragrant. Some get very tall and others remain short depending on species. This genus goes dormant after the first frost and enjoys medium to full sun. They make large clusters so space is needed. Flower colors come in a broad range, white, yellow, peach, pink, etc. KAEMPFERIAS -- Called "peacock" gingers, these are low growing plants with decorative patterned, often variegated foliage. Perfect as a ground cover, especially in shade, many have purple, lavender flowers sometimes mixed with white. Plants are dormant all winter outdoors but make good house plants. K. rotunda produces blooms from the ground before foliage appears. SIPHONOCHILUS -- A small genus of African gingers, only a few species are in cultivation in the U. S. They are small and attractive plants some resembling small Alpinias or Hedychiums in form and others stemless resembling Curcumas, Most have large attractive flowers that bloom in spring and prefer light shade. TAPEINOCHILUS - This ginger will not tolerate freezing but can be pot grown and lifted from the ground overwinter. The flower is said to be brilliant crimson cone shaped bracts with yellow flowers protruding out on top of leafless bamboo-like stalks Leaved shoots grow to 6-8 ft in spiral fashion, resembling Costus. We have not personally grown this one but have heard about it. ZINGIBERS -- Many species have large cones hidden among the foliage that release thick juice when squeezed. The edible ginger (Z. officinale) is a part of this genus. Most species make great foliage plants, some with variegated foliage on tall stems. These can grow in medium to full sun.