Zingiber officinale
Oh how I love my ginger. This common edible ginger is one of the oldest known and widely used spices.
The native range is tropical Asia, but it is now widely grown in all tropical growing zones 9 to 12.
I am in zone 9b which is on the lower edge of compatibility. When the temps drop below 50, the leaves die back and the rhizomes are covered with a deep layer of mulch, usually leaf mold.
My ginger grows to approximately 2 1/2 feet in height in it's current semi-shaded position. I have tried to create an environment similar to a forest floor under the tall oaks, which it seems to love.