Turmeric

Curcuma longa

perennial1.5×3.5 mzone 9–13light shade

Will it grow where I live?

Turmeric is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Zingiberaceae
Habit: perennial
Height: 1.5 m
Spread: 3.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 5 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 9–13
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5 – 7.5

Uses

Medicinal3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Turmeric: how big does it get?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 1.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is medium.

Turmeric: what site does it need?

Turmeric tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5 and 7.5.

Turmeric: is it hardy?

Turmeric is listed as hardy in zone 9–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Turmeric: will it grow in Central Europe?

Turmeric: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Turmeric. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Turmeric: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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