We’re excited to introduce a brand new flower to the PFG lineup this season: Curcuma alismatifolia
Grown locally by Moonshot Farm in New Jersey, this striking architectural bloom is a cousin to culinary turmeric and ginger, which may be why it is also sometimes called a “ginger tulip”. It hails from Thailand and other tropical locales. Its smooth, sturdy upright stems are topped with layers of colorful bracts that almost look as though they’ve been folded from satin, giving arrangements an elegant, sculptural feel. It’s one of those flowers that stops people in their tracks with the inevitable question: “What is that?!”
Curcuma is also an incredibly hardworking cut flower. With proper care, stems often last two weeks or more in the vase, making them an excellent choice for events and everyday designs. Even better, they thrive during the heat of summer when many other flowers begin to fade and they hold up great out of water for event work! Because it is sturdy and long-lasting, it’s an excellent choice for statement bridal bouquets or large ceremony arrangements, especially during hot weather.
Fun Fact: The colorful “petals” are actually bracts, which continue to open gradually in the vase, giving arrangements an evolving look over several days. Unlike many flowers that simply fade, the colorful bracts often continue to expand and reveal more of their shape over the first several days in the vase.
While curcuma is often associated with tropical designs, don’t let that fool you. It plays beautifully with local summer flowers like zinnias, celosia, lisianthus, dahlias, and ornamental grasses, adding height, texture, and a fresh line element to garden-style arrangements. It’s the perfect shade of green for all those trendy green designs right now. It’s just coming into season (mid-July) and should be available through PFG until the end of the summer.
One important care note: because curcuma is tropical, it prefers warmer temperatures than most cut flowers. Avoid storing it in a cooler. A fresh cut and clean water are all it needs to shine. If you are designing for events and need to put it in centerpieces that will go into the cooler, set your thermostat at 45F or warmer.
We’re always looking for unique crops that help local florists create memorable designs, and we’re thrilled to have Moonshot Farm growing this exciting new stem for the PFG community. We can’t wait to see what you create with it!