Hedychium

Hedychium is a genus of perennial plants native to tropical Asia and the Himalayas, commonly growing to between 120 and 180 cm tall. Common names include garland flower, ginger lily, and kahili ginger. Some species are grown as ornamental plants.

The Hedychium coronarium (white ginger) is the National Flower of Cuba where it is known as "Flor de Mariposa" (lit. Butterfly flower) due to its similarity to a flying white butterfly. This species is fragrant and women garnished themselves with these flowers during Spanish colonization of Cuba. The intricate structure of the inflorescence allowed women to hide and carry secret messages important to the independence cause inside it. It is said that a guajiro's house (farmers) is not completed without a white ginger in a garden. Today the plant has gone wild in the cool rainy mountains in Sierra de Organos, Pinar del Rio Province in the west, Escambray Mountains in the center of the island and in Sierra Maestra in the very west of it.

White ginger is common in Brazil and is considered an invasive weed. It was introduced in the era of slavery in Brazil, brought to the country by African slaves.


Species
Hedychium spicatum is a smallish hardy ginger that grows to around 1 m, with green leaves and large orange and white flowers. It is also known as Spiked Ginger Lily, Sandharlika, Kapur kachri, and Takhellei.

Hedychium flavescens is a species flowering plant from the Zingiberaceae family (the ginger family). Also known as Yellow ginger.

Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger, Ginger Lily) from the Himalaya grows to 8ft (2.4m) tall with long, bright green leaves clasping the tall stems. This is the most widely cultivated species preferring a warm climate although it will tolerate temperate areas that have light, infrequent frosts. The fragrant, red and pale yellow flowers held in dense spikes, appear towards the the end of summer. It is known as 'wild kahili ginger' and is listed as a weed of concern on conservation land in New Zealand and Hawaii.

Hedychium coccineum, also known as orange gingerlily, scarlet gingerlily, and orange bottlebrush ginger), is a species of flowering ginger. A native of Asia, it grows on the edge of forests and in mountain grasslands. Hedychium coccineumcan prefers partial sunshine, but can tolerate full sun. The flowers can range in colour from red to orange to almost yellow.

Hedychium aurantiacum or Red Ginger, is a slender red ginger that may prove to be hardy in the UK over most winters in sheltered locations. The stems of the plants exhibit streaks of red, adding to its interest. This is a plant of horticultural interest, but has close affinities, botanically, with Hedychium coccineum and is alleged to be a subspecies of the latter.

Hedychium coronarium - White ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium) It's original from the Himalayas region of Nepal and India where is known as Dolan champa, Takhellei angouba (Manipuri), Sontaka (Marathi), Suruli Sugandhi (Kannada). The species was introduced by settlers in Hawaii. The native Hawaiians refer to white ginger as 'Awapuhi', using the juice of mature seed head as a hair and skin treatment. In Brazil it is very common and considered to be an invasive weed. It was introduced in the era of slavery, brought to the country by African slaves who used its leaves as mattresses.

Hedychium densiflorum

Hedychium samuiense

Hedychium ellipticum Shaving Brush Ginger

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