Scaphochlamys Argentea was described by Rosemary Smith in 1987 and is native to Borneo, previously circulated in the trade as "Zingiber sp Yellow" before more precise identification placed it correctly in Scaphochlamys — a genus of ginger-family plants easily confused with young Boesenbergia and Zingiber in their juvenile growth stages. Its species name, "silvery," describes the metallic sheen across its foliage.
Note: as a freshly imported bare-root plant, this specimen typically arrives with just a few leaves — the photo shows a more mature, fuller specimen for reference.
Care tip: Like most understory Bornean gingers, this species wants consistently moist, humus-rich soil and will sulk if allowed to dry out between waterings.
Give it low to medium filtered light, a rich, well-draining, humus-heavy mix, and consistent moisture and humidity reflecting its rainforest floor habitat. As a rhizomatous ginger, it will form a slowly spreading clump given the right conditions and enough time to establish.
Borneo alone is home to 24 recognized Scaphochlamys species (with 11 new to science described as recently as 2017), and this species' history — traded under a Zingiber name before correct identification — reflects just how much taxonomic detective work goes into sorting out Bornean understory gingers.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Light | Low to medium filtered light |
| Humidity | 65–85% |
| Watering | Keep consistently moist; avoid drying out |
| Temperature | 70–85°F (21–29°C) |
| Soil | Rich, well-draining, humus-heavy mix |
| Fertilizer | Diluted balanced fertilizer during active growth |
| Origin | Borneo |
Inventory Accuracy
If this item is at low stock, or you are ordering all or almost all of our current inventory, there may be an inventory discrepency. We will contact you about any issues as soon as possible.
Order Processing
Please allow 24 to
48 hrs to process your order. Expect an
email within 48 hrs to let you know your order is on your way.
Store Pickup
If you choose “Pickup
in Store” at checkout, an email will be sent when your order is ready for
pickup. Orders can be picked up during
store hours, see our home page for our current hours. The pick up address is 6637 Easton Rd,
Pipersville, PA 18947
Domestic Shipping Rates
Shipping charges, if
any, for your order will be calculated and displayed at checkout.
