Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric: The Golden Spice of Life

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), also known as Indian Saffron, is a tropical herbaceous perennial in the ginger family, cultivated for its rhizomes which yield the bright yellow spice. The plant produces large, lush, pleated leaves up to 3 feet tall from the rhizomes. In summer, it sends up a conical spike of pale yellow flowers nestled among green bracts. The rhizomes are harvested after the foliage dies back.

Cultivation and Uses

Grow in warm, humid conditions (USDA zones 8-11) in rich, moist, well-drained soil, partial shade. In cooler zones, grow in containers and move indoors for winter. The rhizomes are boiled, dried, and ground into powder used in cooking, dyeing, and traditional medicine (curcumin). Synonyms include Curcuma domestica and Curcuma attenuata.

Taxonomy

• Family: Zingiberaceae
• Genus: Curcuma
• Species: longa
• Synonyms: Curcuma domestica, Curcuma attenuata