Non-Native Species
Torch Ginger
Torch Ginger
(bunga kantan; etlingera elatior)
c. early 19th century
Despite being a main feature in local dishes like rojak (spicy vegetable salad), the torch ginger is native to Malaysia and Indonesia, but initially cultivated in gardens in Singapore. Its small, tubular red flowers with orange to yellow margins are often harvested for the cut flower industry, while its unopened flower bud makes its way into rojak.
