Unlink Mr. Whipple who proclaims, “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin,” this ginger is meant to be squeezed!
I have had these for at least 15 years. I probably planted two or three of them that I probably got from a local gardener. Well, they are in small wooded area in front of my home. The space is naturalized save for a couple azaleas, a camellia, and selloum philodendron, some bleeding-heart vine, a couple of other gingers, a bank of cast iron plants and a huge male sago cycad. Needless to say, it is a dappled sun, call it shady area.
![pinecone / shampoo ginger](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PXL_20220828_153353055-1024x576.jpg)
Well, these take zero care from me and they have multiplied prolifically. They are easily divided and transplanted and so should be one of the best “pass-along” plants.
While the leaves grow 6-feet tall, the pinecone “flower” part is located at the base. These just turned red within a week or two from a really cool, alien looking green. It captures rainwater and holds it as it gets macerated with the intoxicating fragrance of ginger.
![unripe pinecone ginger](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pineconegingerGreen-2-576x1024.jpg)
![green pinecone ginger](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pineconeGingerGreen-scaled.jpg)
When you squeeze the “bulb,” you are rewarded with a delightful, viscous “shampoo.” This is one of my favorite, carefree plants in the garden.
![pinecone shampoo ginger](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PXL_20220828_153048159-576x1024.jpg)
![pinecone shampoo ginger](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PXL_20220828_153608458-576x1024.jpg)
![pinecone ginger patch](http://www.transcendcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PXL_20220828_211130774-scaled.jpg)