How to grow Galangal in Australia
Galangal (Alpinia galanga), also called Thai ginger, is a clumping, ginger-like perennial grown for its tough, pungent rhizomes, a key flavour in Thai and Indonesian curry pastes and soups. It likes warmth, moisture and part shade. Frost damages the leaves, so in cool areas it is grown in a pot that can be moved under shelter.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Galangal in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October and November | Marginal tropical; requires warm sheltered position; unreliable fruiting. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Tropical rhizome; Melbourne winter kills it. Unsuitable year-round. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Not viable in Adelaide. Needs 10 or more months of subtropical warmth and humidity. |
| Perth & WA | September and October | Plant Sep to Oct. Galangal needs the warm months to establish and sits dormant through the cool wet winter. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tropical rhizome killed by cold soil. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Galangal unsuitable for Canberra: tropical rhizome; frost-intolerant. Use other herbs adapted to cold climate. |
| North Queensland | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Galangal is tropical ginger staple; thrives in heat and humidity. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Galangal is tropical ginger staple; thrives in heat and humidity. |
Not to be confused with: Ginger, a close relative with softer, juicier rhizomes and a different flavour, and Turmeric, another member of the ginger family grown for its orange rhizomes.
Where to plant
Galangal grows best in a protected, partly shaded spot with rich, moist, well-drained soil, much like ginger. It tolerates almost full shade, which makes it a useful plant under trees. It is drought and frost tender: frost damages the leaves but rarely kills an established clump, while cold, wet soil in winter can rot the rhizomes.
In cooler areas, growing it in a large pot lets you move it under eaves or into a warm, sheltered spot for winter.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: plant from September to February in part shade with rich, moist soil.
- North Queensland and Darwin: plant in the wet season, September to February. It thrives in the heat and humidity.
- Sydney: marginal. Plant in October or November in a warm, sheltered spot.
- Perth: plant in September or October. It needs the warm months to establish and sits dormant through the cool, wet winter, so make sure drainage is good.
- Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart: our calendar marks these as unsuitable in the ground. Gardening Australia presenters grow it in large pots in Melbourne and the Adelaide Hills, moved to a protected spot in winter.
How to plant
- Plant in spring, after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
- Use pieces of fresh rhizome with one or two buds, or a division from an existing clump.
- Plant the pieces 5 to 10 cm deep in rich soil dug through with compost, or in a large pot of quality potting mix.
- Space plants about 30 to 60 cm apart, as the clump spreads.
- Water in, then mulch before the warm weather arrives.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil moist through the warm growing season, and mulch well. Galangal is drought tender, so do not let it dry out in summer. Water much less in winter, when growth slows, as cold, wet soil rots the rhizomes.
Feed through the warm months with a balanced fertiliser or compost, and top up the mulch.
Harvesting
Galangal rhizomes can be harvested for most of the year once the clump is well established. Young, actively growing rhizomes with a white skin are more tender than older ones with a brown skin. Rather than lifting the whole clump, dig carefully at the side of it and cut off what you need, leaving the rest to keep growing. The rhizomes are tough, so use a sharp knife or spade.
Fresh rhizomes keep for a couple of weeks in a bag in the fridge, or can be frozen whole or sliced and dried. The leaves and young shoots are edible too.
Growing in pots
Galangal grows well in a large, wide pot, which gives the rhizomes room to spread and lets you move the plant under shelter in winter. The roots fill a pot within a year or two, so tip it out and divide it, or move it into a bigger pot. Use quality potting mix, keep it moist through summer and drier in winter, and feed through the warm months.
Propagation and saving seed
Divide clumps every year or two. Tip the plant out of its pot or dig it up, then cut down through the root ball between sets of shoots with a sharp knife or clean secateurs and pull it apart. A piece with four or five stems makes a good new plant, though smaller pieces also grow. Replant the divisions in fresh mix or in the garden.
Companion planting
Galangal suits a warm, moist, partly shaded bed with other tropical herbs and spices.
Good companions
- Lemongrass Another tropical kitchen herb used with galangal in Thai cooking; plant it on the sunnier edge, as it wants more sun.
- Chilli A warm-season plant for the sunny side of the same bed, and the third ingredient of many curry pastes.
Pests and diseases
Galangal is rarely troubled by pests. Cold, wet soil is its main problem.
Galangal is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Yellowing stems and soft, rotting rhizomes, usually in cold, wet or poorly drained soil in winter. Improve drainage and water less in the cool months.
Common questions
Can you grow galangal in Melbourne?
In a pot, yes. Frost damages it and cold, wet soil rots the rhizomes, so grow it in a large pot in part shade and move it under eaves or into a sheltered spot for winter.
How do I harvest galangal?
Once the clump is established, dig at the side and cut off the rhizomes you need, leaving the rest to keep growing. Young rhizomes with white skin are the most tender.
How do I plant galangal from the supermarket?
Choose fresh, firm rhizomes with visible buds. Plant pieces with one or two buds 5 to 10 cm deep in rich, moist soil or a pot in spring, once the soil is warm.
Does galangal need full sun?
No. It prefers part shade and tolerates almost full shade, in rich, moist, well-drained soil.
What is the difference between galangal and ginger?
Both are in the ginger family. Galangal rhizomes are harder and smaller, with a sharper, peppery, citrus flavour, while ginger is softer and juicier with a warmer heat.
How do I divide galangal?
Every year or two, tip the clump out of its pot, cut between sets of shoots with a sharp knife, and replant pieces with four or five stems.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Dividing galangal; Gardening Australia: Spice it up; Green Harvest: Galangal growing information; Wikipedia: Alpinia galanga.