Crepe Ginger
About the Crepe Ginger in Singapore
Last updated 31 May 2026
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The Crepe Ginger (Cheilocostus speciosus) is a stunning native herbaceous plant. They are residents of Singapore's shaded, moist secondary forests, park edges, and nature reserves.
Identifying features
Check out some identifying features of the Crepe Ginger!
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The Crepe Ginger features large, pure white, incredibly delicate flowers characterized by frilly, ruffled edges that look exactly like crushed crepe paper. These stunning blooms emerge from a dark, woody, red cone-like structure known as the inflorescence, where each individual red, cone-like scale serves as a bract. Supporting these flowers are thick, fleshy stems with leaves that are arranged in a distinct, eye-catching spiraling pattern.
Habitat and ecology
They prefer humid, shaded environments under the forest canopy. The delicate white flowers are fragile; they usually open in the late afternoon or evening to attract carpenter bees and certain species of moths, and wither away by the very next day.
Did you know?
The plant's visual display does not end when the white flowers fall off! The bright red, cone-like structure remains on the stem and if successfully fertilised, eventually splits open to reveal fleshy red fruits containing black seeds, which are highly attractive to local forest birds.
Learn more about the Crepe Ginger!
Curious about the Crepe Ginger? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
