Hardy ginger ( Hedychium ) is a genus of around 80 tropical to subtropical herbaceous perennials in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) native to Asia. The genus name is compounded from the Greek meaning “sweet snow” and references the very fragrant white flowers of the type species, butterfly ginger ( H. coronarium ) . These plants prefer moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils in full sun or partial or dappled shade. They do not tolerate standing water or continuously wet soil. Some species can survive down to zone 7B with a thick, protective layer of mulch in the winter. Alternatively, the rhizomes can be dug and stored in a cool basement or garage over winter and replanted in the spring. They can also be grown in containers, which can be brought indoors in cold weather. These plants will remain evergreen in a warm greenhouse or conservatory. Hardy gingers grow from thick rhizomes, similar to the rhizomes of culinary ginger, but these are not used in cooking. These plants can grow 3 to 6 feet tall and form a clump 2 to 3 feet wide. They have tropical-looking foliage, and the flowers of some species are very fragrant, blooming in summer. Several types of hardy ginger are used for essential oil production. Hedychium coccineum is an excellent late-season nectar source for hummingbirds. They tend to be ignored by deer. Use in groups, borders or containers for a tropical look. They would be at home in an Asian garden, children’s garden, shade garden, rain garden or pollinator garden. They make excellent conservatory plants. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale and spider mites can be troublesome, especially indoors. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The green lance-shaped leaves can be up to 2 feet long and 4 to 6 inches wide. The sheathed leaves are widely spaced and alternate with entire margins and pointed tips. They are borne in two ranks. Some may have a few hairs on the undersides. The leaves have a spicy fragrance when crushed.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Funnel; Irregular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers with long stamens, resembling butterflies, appear at the top of the plant in clusters in summer. They can be white, yellow, and orange. Some species are fragrant. Most open from the bottom upward over several weeks to several months, each floret lasting only a few days.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Three-part capsules change from green to brown as they ripen in the late fall. Each contains a fleshy orange aril. The arils are showy when the capsules open.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The pseudostems arise from the rhizomes and are composed of long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles similar to canna lilies.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern Asia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Philippines
Wildlife value
The flowers attract pollinators. Birds are attracted to the arils on the seeds.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Moths; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Roots are edible but not flavorful.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Essential oils are extracted from some of the plants
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Garden for the Blind; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden