Butterfly Ginger, White garland-lily, Garland Flower, Butterfly Lily

Hedychium coronarium

Physical Characteristics

Hedychium coronarium is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - India.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Edible Uses: Young buds and flowers are eaten or used as a flavouring[177, 183]. Root - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177].

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Aromatic Carminative Febrifuge Stomachic Tonic The seed is aromatic, carminative and stomachic[218]. The root is antirheumatic, excitant and tonic[218, 240]. The ground rhizome is used as a febrifuge[240]. An essential oil from the roots is carminative and has anthelmintic indications[240]. The plant has been used as a remedy for foetid nostril[240].

Known Hazards

None known