False Cardamom, Alpinia Nutans, Shell Ginger, Dwarf Cardamon

False cardamom is a great understory plant for your food forest provides a lush tropical look. It is the cold hardiest of the alpinia species, but probably frost sensitive.

The leaves smell spicy and are great in the kitchens or prepared as a tea. Herbalists use false cardamom for hypertension (high blood pressure) , as a diuretic, antifungal or antiulcer. The leaves taste nice in curries or stuffed into a chicken.

It likes shade, part-shade but tolerates full-sun. Very hardy plant and copes well with our heavy clay soil. Prefers rich, moist soil and regular watering during the warmer months. It grows 1-1.5 meters high and wide. Can be grown in a pot -even indoors.