Etlingera elatior

The Emperor's Staff

Native to the tropical forests of Asia, this extraordinary plant captivates with its spectacular flowers and lush foliage.
Visible in the garden
Our species
Ginger family
Scientific name:
Etlingera elatior
Common name:
The Emperor's Staff

's Species Profile
Known for its large, spectacular flower clusters, the Emperor’s Cane immediately catches the eye. This iconic plant of tropical gardens is also known as the “hummingbird cane” in Guadeloupe.
Family:
Ginger family
Geographical origin:
Southeast Asia
Size:
Up to 6 m tall (flowering stem 20–40 cm)
Flowering:
A tropical climate all year round
Habitat:
Rainforests and shaded areas
Class:
Liliopsida (monocots)
Order:
Zingiberales

A spectacular tropical bloom

The porcelain rose is a tropical plant recognizable by its large, colorful bracts, which are often mistaken for petals. The actual flowers, which are smaller and tubular, appear among these bracts. This characteristic is also found in other tropical plants, such as Alpinia (Alpinia purpurata) or sour cane, where the most visible parts are not the flowers.

Highly prized for its bright colors, this plant attracts many pollinators, such as hummingbirds. It perfectly illustrates the diversity of flowering plants found in tropical botanical gardens.

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