Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), also known as True Cardamom, is a tropical perennial plant that produces aromatic seeds used around the world. This lush, clump-forming plant features broad green leaves and small white or pale yellow flowers with purple veins, followed by the famous fragrant seed pods.
Cardamom is a beautiful ornamental herb-shrub as well as a valuable spice plant. It thrives in warm, humid climates and can also be grown indoors in large containers under bright, indirect light. The plant prefers rich, moist soil and requires steady warmth throughout the year.
Perfect for gardeners looking to add a fragrant and exotic tropical plant to their collection, Cardamom combines beauty, scent, and functionality — an elegant addition to greenhouses, patios, or indoor gardens.
Features
- Non-GMO Elettaria cardamomum seeds
- Produces aromatic pods and fragrant flowers
- Attractive glossy green foliage and white blooms
- Suitable for tropical and subtropical climates
- Can be grown indoors or outdoors
- Excellent ornamental and functional plant
- Long-living perennial with minimal maintenance
- Thrives in warm, humid conditions
Specifications
- Scientific Name: Elettaria cardamomum
- Common Name (US): Cardamom / True Cardamom
- Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous shrub
- Foliage Color: Glossy green
- Flower Color: White to pale yellow with purple veins
- Pod Color: Green when immature, brown when dried
- Height: 6–12 feet (1.8–3.6 m) in ideal conditions
- Spread: 3–6 feet (0.9–1.8 m)
- Bloom Time: Late spring to mid-summer
- Light Requirements: Partial shade to filtered sunlight
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy soil
- Soil pH: 6.0–7.5
- Watering Needs: Regular; prefers consistent moisture
- Temperature Range: 70–95°F (21–35°C)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–12
- Days to Germination: 30–45 days
- Seed Depth: 1/4 inch deep
- Plant Spacing: 18–24 inches apart
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- GMO Status: Non-GMO
- Fertilizer: Balanced organic fertilizer every 4–6 weeks
- Pollinator Friendly: Yes
- Humidity Needs: High
- Maintenance Level: Moderate
- Propagation: By seeds or rhizome division
- Seed Viability: 1–2 years when stored dry and cool
Planting Guide
- Seed Preparation: Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting.
- When to Sow: Start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse at 70–85°F.
- Seed Depth: Sow 1/4 inch deep in rich, moist soil.
- Light Requirement: Provide bright, indirect light or partial shade.
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Germination Time: 30–45 days; be patient as germination can be slow.
- Transplanting: Move seedlings to larger pots or garden beds once 4–6 leaves appear.
- Maintenance: Maintain high humidity; mist plants regularly in dry climates.
- Harvest: Pods develop in the second or third year under favorable conditions.
