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Curcuma zeodaria 'Pink Wonder' - bulbs
Scientific:
Curcuma zeodaria 'Pink Wonder'
Bulbs/Pack:
rhizomes
Planting Time:
When available but avoid hard freeze
Shipping Period:
When Available
Bloom Period:
September/October
Bloom Size:
spikes 12-18" tall
Zones:
8 - 10b
Color:
Lavender-pink
Planting Depth:
2-4 inches deep
Soil:
well drained; moist soil
Light:
Morning sun then shade
Height:
4 feet
Wildlife:
Resistant
Reliability:
Very Reliable
$15.00
Curcuma 'Pink Wonder' brings a vibrant pop of color to summer gardens with its pink-tipped bracts and broad, lush foliage reaching up to 4 feet tall. Paired with Curcuma 'Indian Surprise', the two varieties complement each other beautifully—sharing similar growing needs while offering contrasting blooms and textures. Together, they create a lush, tropical display that feels both thoughtfully curated and naturally diverse.
What to expect: The foliage will begin to appear once the foil temperature is consistently about 65 degrees - June. The ornamental foliage will add depth to your garden for a couple of months while you wait for the flowers spikes to appear under the lance-shaped leaves that are 2-3 feet tall around late August/early September. The blooms will continue peaking out from under the foliage for the next 4-6 weeks. As the days get shorter and cooler in October, the blooming will taper off. The foliage will begin yellowing and going dormant around November in zone 8 and 9. In the warmer zones of 10 and 11, the blooms will start as early as late June or July and last for 6-10 weeks with regular watering. There may not even be a period of dormancy especially if it is a warm winter and they are irrigated.
Planting Requirements - Sun and Water: These tropical rhizomes do best in well-drained soil that is kept moist by regular watering. Plant the rhizomes 2-4 inches deep. Prefers a semi-shady area. It does best with morning sun and then shade the rest of the day. This rhizome benefits from regular fertilization during the growing season as long as you continue to water it well. These will get 4 feet tall so plant each one about 2-3 feet apart. It prefers to be dry when dormant.
This is a larger plant than the Curcuma aeruginosa 'Indian Surprise'. It will work in a pot, but it will need to be a very large pot since the plant gets 4 feet tall. You may also want to put it on rollers to begin with so that it can be moved indoors when the temperatures drop.
Blooms and Foliage: This curcuma's leaves stand upright, adding a bold vertical element to your garden beds or containers around the patio or house. The lush foliage is a vibrant ribbed green with hints of red or purple near the base of the plant. The foliage begins around early June (earlier in zones 10 and 11) and lasts until the first frost. If they are in the ground, you will want to mulch over the top of it well in zone 7 and possibly 8 (depending on the winter) just to protect it.
The blooms will begin to appear around August and last for 4-6 weeks. Each flower spike emerges directly from the rhizome and rises up among the lush, banana-like leaves, often standing out as a bold, colorful feature in the landscape. The plant may send up multiple spikes in succession, each lasting 2–3 weeks. These vibrant spikes—featuring bold pinks— will continue October, depending on light and moisture. To extend the bloom season, keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy), provide morning sun with afternoon shade, and fertilize monthly during the growing period.
Blooms in zones 10 and 11 may begin as early as June/July and last for 6-10 weeks.
Mulitplying: A single rhizome of curcuma can slowly develop into a large clump over a period fo just a few growing seasons. After the plant goes dormant, the rhizomes begin to produce new growth. A healthy rhizome can produce several new "eyes' or shoots in a single growing season. If planted in the ground, you can expect to dig up your rhizomes every 2-4 years to divide. This encourages more vigorous growth and multiplication. Be sure to wait until the foliage has compeltely died back to dig them up and divide.
If you have yours in pots, plan on dividing the curcuma every 1-2 years. You will have lots to share with friends and family.
Animals: Bees and butterflies may occasionally visit curcuma especially if there a few nectar options available (which is often the case in the heat of the August/September in the South). Deer, squirrels, rabbits tend to avoid curcuma (though deer have been known to eat plastic flowers). It is not toxic to your pets who are rarely interested in it either.
| Feature | Curcuma zedoaria 'Pink Wonder' | Curcuma aeruginosa 'Indian Surprise' | Why Have Both? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bract/Flower Color | Bright pink bracts with pale yellow flowers | Purplish-pink bracts with hidden, soft tubular blooms | Adds color variety and visual depth to summer/fall displays |
| Foliage | Broad, upright, tropical leaves | Slightly more compact foliage, graceful lines | Offers textural contrast even when not blooming |
| Blooming Time | Late summer to early fall | Early fall | Slight bloom variation may extend the flowering season |
| Height | Typically 4 ft; occasionally taller in tropics | Typically 2.5–4 ft | Varying heights add layers and dimension to garden beds |
| Growing Zones | USDA Zones 8–10b | USDA Zones 8–11 | Compatible zones make care simple and consistent |
| Light & Soil Needs | Partial shade, moist, rich, well-draining soil | Partial shade, moist, rich, well-draining soil | Same care requirements—low-maintenance diversity |
| Botanical Interest | Known for bold display and medicinal roots | Known for ornamental use and traditional value | Enhances botanical variety and storytelling in the garden |
Planting Tips
-
Pink Wonder goes in the back because it can grow slightly taller (up to 4 feet) and has wide, upright foliage. It serves as a bold background.
-
Indian Surprise sits in front of Pink Wonder for a layered look. Its slightly more compact size and different flower form contrast beautifully.
-
Front Row Companions:
-
Use caladiums or ferns for foliage interest.
-
Consider impatiens or torenia for low-growing, shade-tolerant flowers.
-
These help fill space before the Curcumas bloom and soften the garden edges.
-
Share:
Details
Curcuma 'Pink Wonder' brings a vibrant pop of color to summer gardens with its pink-tipped bracts and broad, lush foliage reaching up to 4 feet tall. Paired with Curcuma 'Indian Surprise', the two varieties complement each other beautifully—sharing similar growing needs while offering contrasting blooms and textures. Together, they create a lush, tropical display that feels both thoughtfully curated and naturally diverse.
What to expect: The foliage will begin to appear once the foil temperature is consistently about 65 degrees - June. The ornamental foliage will add depth to your garden for a couple of months while you wait for the flowers spikes to appear under the lance-shaped leaves that are 2-3 feet tall around late August/early September. The blooms will continue peaking out from under the foliage for the next 4-6 weeks. As the days get shorter and cooler in October, the blooming will taper off. The foliage will begin yellowing and going dormant around November in zone 8 and 9. In the warmer zones of 10 and 11, the blooms will start as early as late June or July and last for 6-10 weeks with regular watering. There may not even be a period of dormancy especially if it is a warm winter and they are irrigated.
Planting Requirements - Sun and Water: These tropical rhizomes do best in well-drained soil that is kept moist by regular watering. Plant the rhizomes 2-4 inches deep. Prefers a semi-shady area. It does best with morning sun and then shade the rest of the day. This rhizome benefits from regular fertilization during the growing season as long as you continue to water it well. These will get 4 feet tall so plant each one about 2-3 feet apart. It prefers to be dry when dormant.
This is a larger plant than the Curcuma aeruginosa 'Indian Surprise'. It will work in a pot, but it will need to be a very large pot since the plant gets 4 feet tall. You may also want to put it on rollers to begin with so that it can be moved indoors when the temperatures drop.
Blooms and Foliage: This curcuma's leaves stand upright, adding a bold vertical element to your garden beds or containers around the patio or house. The lush foliage is a vibrant ribbed green with hints of red or purple near the base of the plant. The foliage begins around early June (earlier in zones 10 and 11) and lasts until the first frost. If they are in the ground, you will want to mulch over the top of it well in zone 7 and possibly 8 (depending on the winter) just to protect it.
The blooms will begin to appear around August and last for 4-6 weeks. Each flower spike emerges directly from the rhizome and rises up among the lush, banana-like leaves, often standing out as a bold, colorful feature in the landscape. The plant may send up multiple spikes in succession, each lasting 2–3 weeks. These vibrant spikes—featuring bold pinks— will continue October, depending on light and moisture. To extend the bloom season, keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy), provide morning sun with afternoon shade, and fertilize monthly during the growing period.
Blooms in zones 10 and 11 may begin as early as June/July and last for 6-10 weeks.
Mulitplying: A single rhizome of curcuma can slowly develop into a large clump over a period fo just a few growing seasons. After the plant goes dormant, the rhizomes begin to produce new growth. A healthy rhizome can produce several new "eyes' or shoots in a single growing season. If planted in the ground, you can expect to dig up your rhizomes every 2-4 years to divide. This encourages more vigorous growth and multiplication. Be sure to wait until the foliage has compeltely died back to dig them up and divide.
If you have yours in pots, plan on dividing the curcuma every 1-2 years. You will have lots to share with friends and family.
Animals: Bees and butterflies may occasionally visit curcuma especially if there a few nectar options available (which is often the case in the heat of the August/September in the South). Deer, squirrels, rabbits tend to avoid curcuma (though deer have been known to eat plastic flowers). It is not toxic to your pets who are rarely interested in it either.
| Feature | Curcuma zedoaria 'Pink Wonder' | Curcuma aeruginosa 'Indian Surprise' | Why Have Both? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bract/Flower Color | Bright pink bracts with pale yellow flowers | Purplish-pink bracts with hidden, soft tubular blooms | Adds color variety and visual depth to summer/fall displays |
| Foliage | Broad, upright, tropical leaves | Slightly more compact foliage, graceful lines | Offers textural contrast even when not blooming |
| Blooming Time | Late summer to early fall | Early fall | Slight bloom variation may extend the flowering season |
| Height | Typically 4 ft; occasionally taller in tropics | Typically 2.5–4 ft | Varying heights add layers and dimension to garden beds |
| Growing Zones | USDA Zones 8–10b | USDA Zones 8–11 | Compatible zones make care simple and consistent |
| Light & Soil Needs | Partial shade, moist, rich, well-draining soil | Partial shade, moist, rich, well-draining soil | Same care requirements—low-maintenance diversity |
| Botanical Interest | Known for bold display and medicinal roots | Known for ornamental use and traditional value | Enhances botanical variety and storytelling in the garden |
Planting Tips
-
Pink Wonder goes in the back because it can grow slightly taller (up to 4 feet) and has wide, upright foliage. It serves as a bold background.
-
Indian Surprise sits in front of Pink Wonder for a layered look. Its slightly more compact size and different flower form contrast beautifully.
-
Front Row Companions:
-
Use caladiums or ferns for foliage interest.
-
Consider impatiens or torenia for low-growing, shade-tolerant flowers.
-
These help fill space before the Curcumas bloom and soften the garden edges.
-
