Finger Root ‘Chinese Keys’ (Boesenbergia Rotunda)
Regular price $19.95Finger Root, also known as Chinese Keys and Chinese Ginger, is a herbaceous perennial plant native anywhere from South China to west Malesia. A member of the Zingiberaceae family along with its other Ginger relatives, the plant gets its name from its “fingerlike” rhizomes which grow from a central core.
Tubular white and pink summer flowers exude deep fragrance and take on a lovely ornamental quality. This rare culinary spice comes with a crunch. Its root is often cut into thin slices for garnish or a salad sprucer. Finger Root is used in curries, pickles and other dishes for its spicy flavor that grans a slightly sweeter flavor than typical Ginger. In folk medicine, the roots are used for digestion and cough remedies. Leaves are also perfectly edible and make for a great spring addition to a saute or stir-fry!
Common Names:
Krachai, Chinese Ginger, Finger Root, Sweet Thai ginger
Native to:
South China to west Malesia
Traditional Uses:
Culinary, Herbal Medicine
Plant Type:
Perennial
Harvest Season:
Summer Blossoms
Fall for Roots
Mature Size:
1-2 ft. tall
Soil & Moisture:
Rich, damp, well-draining soil. Grows best in high humidity areas.
Light Requirements:
Part Shade, Full Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 5-10 as an annual
10b-12 as a perennial; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Our Finger Root is grown by root division and is capable of harvest within a year.