Sand Ginger

Sand Ginger (Kaempferia galanga) is a small, shade-loving ginger relative known for its powerful aroma and medicinal punch.

Sand Ginger is also called:

Kencur in Indonesia

Cikur in Sundanese

Proh hom in Cambodia

Sha Jiang in Chinese (沙姜)

Hong dou kou for the seeds (红豆蔻)

Resurrection lily in English

Aromatic ginger or sometimes just galangal

It’s not the same as regular galangal. Kaempferia galanga.

Native to Southeast Asia but surprisingly adaptable in Australia, this low-growing herb spreads with underground rhizomes and pops up fragrant, pale flowers close to the ground. Its knobbly roots are used in traditional Asian cooking, especially in curries, spice pastes, and herbal drinks. In Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, it's prized for its warming, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties. In the garden, it doubles as an ornamental with glossy leaves and a neat habit under taller plants.

Features
Ideal prune height: 20–30 cm
pH range: 6.0–7.5
Sun preference: Full shade to dappled light
Minimum pot size by year 5: 20 L
Time to harvest: 10–12 months from planting
Harvest period: Late summer to autumn
Notable traits: Edible rhizome, strong medicinal history, grows well in pots, aromatic foliage

Sand Ginger thrives in humid, shaded spots—under trees, beside water tanks, or in a bright bathroom window. It prefers rich, loose soil and regular water during the growing season but goes dormant in winter. Great in pots if kept sheltered from cold wind and frost. Can be multiplied easily from pieces of rhizome.

If you love spice, medicine, or just weird and wonderful plants that stay low and behave, Sand Ginger’s a no-brainer.

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