1. It likes mainly shade/part shade/dappled shade. Regular water, not a bog.

2. It is a naturally deciduous ginger that is root hardy in your area. It will go away in winter and return in Spring. Flowers will come up first before leaves. FLowers are usually either white or purple, a few have gold flowers. Most continue to flower after leaves appear. Yes its a "true ginger". The name is generally Kaempferia or Cornukaempferia.

3. Size depends on type. Gilbertii and Gilbertii 3D are extremely smallish, 4-7 inch narrow leaves. Grande is very large, leaves can be almost 2 ft long and 8 or so inches wide. Raven and Indian Crocus have upright leaves about a foot long and maybe 3" wide. Most of the others kinda hug the ground and have leaves maybe 8-10 inches long and 5-6 inches wide.

Won't pop up till around June. Mine are all blooming right now and usually go dormant early winter. Tolerates am sun, I'm about the same zone as ya'll. Tally HO!

I'm in Louisiana as well, zone 8B. I got one a few months ago from a trade.

I love it. I can't answer all of your questions because as I said, I've only had mine for a few months, but I have it in a pot on the shaded front porch and it seems to like it there.

The foliage is very pretty and it can be used down here as a substitute for hosta, which I haven't had any luck at all with.

Thanks for all the great info on peacock. I think I must have the grande because the leaves are huge. The foilage is pretty. I am glad to hear it is hardy here because I already have so many plants I will have to protect lol. I am seriously considering some type of greenhouse at least for winter.