Black Cardamom Amomum subulatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- amo-mum sub-u-lay-tum
- Description
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Black cardamom is a spice in the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family similar to the more common green cardamom, though it has a smokier flavor. It is a native of the slopes of the Himalayas in Sikkim, India, and Nepal and is the oldest and most widely used spice in the world, often referred to as the “Queen of Spices”. The name Amomum comes from the Greek word momum meaning ‘unblemished’ or ‘faultless’ and the Latin word subula meaning “awl”, referring to the awl-shaped and pointed leaves.
Black cardamom is a red stemmed, tall, clustering, evergreen with abundant glossy, slim, tropical leaves. The mostly yellow or white flowers form at the base of the dull reddish-brown spreading rhizomes that then produce the fruit that contains the cardamom seed that is used as a spice. Cardamom is best grown in hot, humid, shady tropical rainforest conditions, ideally near hilly mountain streams or valleys where there is ample well-drained water, with temperatures ranging from 50 to 95 degrees and altitudes between 2200 and 5000 feet. In moderate climates, cardamom can be planted in containers and brought into a greenhouse, or other warm shady humid areas, such as a bathroom, when temperatures drop below 50 degrees.
To grow from seed, plant 1 to 2 inches deep and 18 inches apart, and fertilize with a high nitrogen, low potassium fertilizer. The soil needs to be kept evenly moist, and never allowed to dry out. Plants may not flower or fruit when grown in less that tropical climates or when grown in pots, but it still makes an interesting foliage plant. Propagation is by division of the rhizomes or from seeds. Seed germination is poor, but seeds that do germinate produce plants that are more resistant to viral diseases. Plants from division bear fruit earlier, but are more susceptible to disease. It takes up to four years to receive a harvest from the plant. Fruiting takes about five months from flowering, making harvesting time in late fall. India is one of the largest producers and exporters of cardamom, harvesting 3500 to 4000 metric tons annually. Cardamom is harvested by hand, and is the world’s 3rd most expensive spice per weight.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to stem borer, shoot fly, lacewings, fruit borer, aphids, mealy bugs, caterpillars, scale, grasshoppers, rhizome weevil, and thrips.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amomum
- Species:
- subulatum
- Family:
- Zingiberaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Cardamom was used in food preparation as far back as the sixth century BC, and also used to drive away evil spirits. Today 60% is consumed in food preparation, and 40% is used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfume industries. It is mentioned in Ayurveda (the traditional Hindu system of medicine) for a variety of health benefits, including for dental, skincare, kidney, heart, nausea, circulation, detoxification, digestion, asthma, stimulants, astringents, and many others.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Nepal to Central China
- Distribution:
- Assam, Bangladesh, South Central China, Southeast China, East Himalaya, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Tibet.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- Cardamom seeds are a popular spice used in flavoring spicy and rustic dishes, such as long simmering soups and stews, lentils, rice, pasta, curries, and meat dishes. Its mild, smoky, roasted flavor comes from the seed pods being dried over open flames, enhancing the other ingredients in the dish. Leaves of the plant can also be cooked and consumed as greens, the roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes, the flowers can be used as a garnish and the pods are used in beef and chicken curries.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The light green capsule is irregularly globose with 10 to 15 irregular dentate-undulate wings. As the capsule matures, the skin becomes rough, deeply wrinkled, with a tough paper-like skin and turns dark brown. The capsule holds 40 to 50 purple, dark brown, or red-brown seeds in a sugary pulp. The seed pods have a camphor-like aroma.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Ivory flowers with yellow borders and pink or blue-violet stripes radiating from the center, are formed on erect or semi-erect inflorescences. The short, compact, spiked inflorescences bearing 40 to 50 buds arise from the base of old shoots coming from the rhizomes. Tight red bracts encase the flower buds. Each flower on the inflorescence stays open for three days or more, with each inflorescence flowering for over a month. Flowering continues from spring through mid-summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leafy aerial shoots grow up from the spreading rhizomes. The evergreen sword-shaped leaves are formed on the upper part of the stem. The 1 to 2 foot leaves with their prominent mid ribs are dark green and glossy on top, and lighter green and smooth on the bottom.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Red stem grow up to 5 feet tall. After a few years the old stems die down.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Humidity
- Wet Soil