RHS the Plantsman, December 2014
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RubRic To come Zingiber mioga and its cultivars In temperate gardens Zingiber mioga is a good companion for other exotic-looking plants As hardy as the eaps of myoga in a Wild distribution Japanese supermarket The native range of Z. mioga extends hardiest roscoeas, in Hawai’i sparked our from central and southeast China to this edible ginger Hinterest in Zingiber mioga. Orchid- the mountains of north Vietnam and like flowers and a tropical appearance into South Korea. It is also found in also has desirable belie its hardiness. As well as being a Japan, but not Hokkaido. Colonies, ornamental qualities. popular culinary herb in the Far East, favouring rich, moist, well-drained Japanese ginger grows well in soils, usually grow on shady slopes Theodor Ch Cole temperate gardens. and in mountain valleys in the and Sven In this article we hope to understory of deciduous and mixed demonstrate what a good garden forests. The species probably nürnberger look plant it is, and highlight some of the originated in southeast China. at its many aspects ornamental cultivars. Knowledgeable gardeners in Europe and North Plant description and discuss its garden America are aware of this plant, Zingiber mioga is a rhizomatous use and cultivars but its potential is still greatly perennial with short vegetative underestimated in the West. shoots. The pseudostems are formed As well as being called myoga mostly by the leaf sheaths and the in Japan, it is known as rang he in alternate leaves are lanceolate. The China and yang ha in Korea. inflorescences, borne on a short 226 December 2014 PlantsmanThe Theodor CH Cole Theodor Questing rhizomes (above) show how the plant spreads to form dense colonies. The basally produced flowers are usually white (above & right) but yellow in plants from China (below right). These are followed by fruits with vivid red interiors bearing black seeds in white arils (below left) CH Cole Theodor Theodor CH Cole Theodor Cassian Schmidt Cassian CH Cole Theodor underground stalk, consist of several Natural diversity Ornamental cultivars layers of fleshy bracts and emerge The most vigorous variants of Three variegated cultivars are from the soil in midsummer, often Z. mioga are from central and available: ‘Dancing Crane’, ‘Silver remaining at ground level and partly southeast China. Here, vegetative Arrow’ and ‘White Feather’. Also, buried. The delicate and ephemeral shoots can reach 2m in height and a green-leaved cultivar, ‘Crûg’s Zing’, flowers, usually white to yellowish, abundant flowers lead to plenty of collected on the South Korean island arise from between the inflorescence viable seeds. of Jeju by Bleddyn and Sue Wynn- bracts. The corolla tube bears an Japanese variants grow to about Jones of Crûg Farm Plants, north upper, arching lobe and two lower 1m in height and are mostly infertile Wales, is about 1m high, has lilac- ones, but the most conspicuous part under natural conditions, spreading pink flowers and rarely sets fruit. of the flower is the 3cm-long labellum exclusively by rhizomes. ‘Dancing Crane’ is the most flanked by two petaloid staminodes. Most plants that are commercially popular variegated cultivar. It has The style runs through a groove on available in the UK, Germany and leaves bearing a combination of the stamen formed by the connective the US are of Japanese origin. narrow and broad, white, of the anther and terminates with a The flower colour of Z. mioga longitudinal marks. tufted stigma. Dull green fruits split also varies; buttercup-yellow in ‘Silver Arrow’ has a dense pattern open to reveal many glossy, black southwest China, creamy white of narrower, but more numerous, seeds partly enclosed in creamy in Japan, and yellow to white yellow marks, giving the entire leaf white arils attached to the shiny, corolla with lilac-pink staminodes a yellowish green appearance. bright red inner walls of the capsule. in South Korea. ‘White Feather’ has few, ➤ December 2014 227 species pRofile Bleddyn Wynn-Jones Bleddyn Sven Nürnberger Sven Zingiber mioga cultivars: ‘Crûg’s Zing’ (above left), ‘White Feather’ (above right) and ‘Silver Arrow’ (right). narrow, white to yellow stripes, Cultivation particularly along the leaf margins. Shoots of Z. mioga emerge from the The variegated cultivars grow to ground from April to mid June, and a height of around 50–80cm and are then rapidly attain full height. It is less hardy than unvariegated plants. hardy to -16°C or below, depending on soil conditions and degree of Garden use protection, but excessive soil Robust and fast-growing, Z. mioga wetness in winter should be avoided. gives a tropical look to temperate, In colder climates it is advisable to perennial gardens. It combines well protect the plants with mulch. Plants with plants such as Begonia grandis, in containers should be moved to a Cautleya, Deinanthe bifida, Peltoboy sheltered site if temperatures drop kinia tellimoides, Saruma henryi and below -10°C. ferns. Suitable taller plants might Pest and disease problems are few. include Diphylleia cymosa, Kirenge Young plants are susceptible to slugs shoma palmata and Tricyrtis latifolia, and snails, and older plants can suffer along with Arisaema consanguineum from scale insect and red spider and tall Astilbe and Paeonia whose mite. Fungal pathogens such as autumn leaf and fruit colours contrast Pythium zingiberum and Pyricularia well with Z. mioga. Taller plants such zingiberi can also infect plants. as Musa basjoo and tree ferns can Cucumber mosaic virus is another provide exotic-looking shade. possible infection. The yellowish green variegated will aid emergence of the flower foliage of ‘Silver Arrow’ makes a Propagation buds, especially if one intends to good contrast to darker green Established plants can be divided in use them for culinary purposes. woodland plants and its similarly early spring. Alternatively, 15–20cm- Plants can also be propagated coloured young shoots combine long sections of rhizome from robust from seed, which germinate readily nicely with the dark purple ones of plants can be dug out and replanted at 20°C. Plants originating from Disporum longistylum ‘Night Heron’. in spring to early summer. These China generally produce seeds Alternatively, the relatively late should be planted 3cm deep in a successfully in cultivation. emergence of Z. mioga means that rich, organic, free-draining soil at Pollination does not seem to require spring-flowering bulbs can be grown pH 5.5–7 with a small amount of particular conditions or agents; nearby. In autumn, the foliage turns fertilizer. The soil should be kept they may even pollinate by selfing. yellow then silvery brown and dies semi-moist, but never waterlogged. Cassian Schmidt of Hermannshof away quickly. Plants benefit from a mulch, and this garden, Germany, collected seed 228 December 2014 PlantsmanThe etiolated shoots, referred to as myoga take (myoga bamboo). These look like thin pencils with pale green and pink stripes. The taste of myoga is deliciously fresh and spicy, and crispy to the bite, and not like common ginger! Myoga is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and tradition. Annual myoga festivals (myoga matsuri) celebrate its mythology Masahiro Kagami Masahiro Robert Toth Robert and folklore. One of the ten most common Japanese family crests consists of two myoga ‘buds’ facing each other. It is also widely grown in home gardens and commonly available in markets. Myoga crops are now extensively grown in New Zealand and Australia (including Tasmania) to supply the Japanese market during the northern hemisphere winter. Conclusion With its ornamental credentials and a growing interest in Asian food plants, this hardy Asian ginger has great potential to become more Mitsuko Yorkston Mitsuko widely grown in the West. It may even become more widely grown as a commercial cultivated crop in Europe and North America. Zingiber mioga ‘Dancing Crane’ (top left) has in Jiangxi, China, in 2010 which the boldest variegation and is the most widely germinated readily; the resultant Sven Nürnberger Sven available cultivar. Blanched shoots (top right) and young inflorescences (above) are a popular plants were producing their own Theodor Ch Cole is an food item in Japan. viable seeds in 2013. American botanist at Heidelberg University, Germany. bibliOGraPhy Traditional uses sven nürnberger is Alpine Branney, TME (2005) Hardy In China there is a long tradition Horticulturist at Palmengarten, Gingers. RHS / Timber Press, of using Z. mioga as a medicinal plant. Frankfurt, Germany and a regular Portland, Oregon However, it is more widely eaten contributor to GartenPraxis Gracie, AJ, Brown, PH & Clark, in Japan. There, the young, plump, horticultural magazine. RJ (2004) Study of some factors affecting the growth and pinkish flower ‘buds’ (actually young development of myoga (Zingiber inflorescences), known as myoga no aCkNOWledGemeNTs mioga Roscoe). Sci. Hort. 100: ko (children of myoga) or tsubomi, Many thanks to Masahiro Kagami 267–278 are widely consumed. They are finely (Gakugei University, Tokyo), Staples, GW & Kristiansen, MS sliced and added as a garnish to foods Clifford W Morden and Mitsuko (1999) Ethnic Culinary Herbs – such as soups, tofu, pickled Yorkston (University of Hawai’i) A Guide to Identification and vegetables, salads, sushi and sashimi, and Cassian Schmidt (Hermannshof, Cultivation in Hawai’i. University Weinheim) for valuable support, and also served as tempura. Another of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu plant material and photographs. speciality in Japan is the blanched, December 2014 229.