Ginger (Zingibar officinale)

Attractive herbacious perrinial is easy to grow in climates that do not freeze hard. Leaves are very sentisive to frost, but can resprout from the base if the rizomes are mulched to protect from freezing. Can be grown in a greenhouse as a groundcover around bushes and trees or as a potted plant. Its pungent and flavorable yellow fleshed rizomes are used as a spice, food and medicine. After a year the plants can be dug up, the rizomes harvested and cut off, leaving a section attached to the growing end for replanting. Hardy zones 9 and up.