Also known as Common Curcuma · Common Turmeric · Flankton
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a vibrant perennial herb grown for its rhizomes, which are used as a spice, dye, and in traditional medicine.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Bright, indirect sunlight
75% intensity
Prefers at least 6 hours of light daily, but protect from intense midday sun.
Keep soil consistently moist
75% intensity
Avoid waterlogging; reduce watering in dormancy.
Well-draining, loamy, rich in organic matter
50% intensity
Warm conditions
75% intensity
Thrives in temperatures between 20-30°C. Protect from frost; it's a tropical plant.
Outdoor, Indoor
50% intensity
Regular feeding during growth
50% intensity
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | Yes |
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season. Avoid waterlogged conditions, which can lead to root rot.
Reduce watering significantly when the plant enters dormancy in cooler months, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Pruning is generally minimal for turmeric. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves as they appear to maintain plant health and appearance. If the plant becomes too leggy, light pruning can encourage bushier growth.
No major structural pruning is typically required.
Turmeric is propagated primarily through its rhizomes. Divide mature rhizomes into sections, ensuring each piece has at least one 'eye' or bud.
Plant these divisions in well-draining soil, and they will sprout new plants. This is best done in spring.
Repot turmeric every 1-2 years, or when the rhizomes fill the current container. Choose a pot that is at least 30 cm deep and wide to allow for rhizome expansion.
Repotting is best done in early spring before new growth begins.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Where Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is found
Density
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6 known issues from plant disease data
Rhizome rot in Turmeric makes basal shoots watery and soft, dries leaf margins, and turns rhizomes soft, rotten, and brown.
Leaf spot on Turmeric causes elliptic brown lesions with yellow halos, pale centers, and a scorched, dried look on leaves.
Leaf blotch on Turmeric covers both leaf sides with many tiny brown spots that merge into larger reddish-brown patches.
Bacterial wilt in Turmeric starts with water-soaked collar spots, leaf drooping and yellowing, then the whole plant wilts.
Dry rot in Turmeric makes rhizomes dull, deep gray to dark brown, light, less firm, and wrinkled with dry decay.
Root-knot nematode in Turmeric causes stunting, yellowing, poor tillering, leaf necrosis, and galling on roots and rhizomes.
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Zingiberales |
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Genus | Curcuma |
| Species | Curcuma longa |
Similar in genus Curcuma
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
