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Hedychium spicatum - Buch.-Ham.

Common Name
Family Zingiberaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Forest clearings, shrubberies, 1800 - 2800 metres[90] from Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh.
Range E. Asia - Himalayas.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Hedychium spicatum


Hedychium spicatum

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Hedychium spicatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.7 m (2ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower in 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 soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - cooked[177]. Eaten in savoury dishes with lentils[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Carminative  Digestive  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  Stimulant  Stomachic  Tonic  Vasodilator


The rootstock is carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[240, 243]. It is useful in the treatment of liver complaints, and is also used in treating fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea, inflammation, pains and snake bite[240, 243, 272]. The root is used in Tibetan medicine, it is said to have an acrid taste and heating potency[241]. It is digestive, stomachic and vasodilator[241]. It is used in the treatment of indigestion and poor circulation due to thickening of the blood[241].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Essential  Incense

The rootstock yields 4% essential oil[240]. This oil, which has a scent somewhat like hyacinths, is so powerful that a single drop will render clothes highly perfumed for a considerable period[245]. The dried root is burnt as an incense[245].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a rich moist soil and a sunny position[233]. They can be grown in a sunny border as a summer sub-tropical bedding plant[[1]. Plants are not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -2°c. They can be grown at the foot of a south-facing wall if given a good mulch in the winter[1, 200]. Plants succeed outdoors in Tresco Gardens, Isles of Scilly. This species succeeds outdoors in most parts of S. England, especially if the rhizomes are mulched with dry leaves in the autumn[90]. Plants have been known to withstand temperatures down to -16°c in Germany[214]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The tubers should only just be covered with soil[233]. The flowers are sweetly scented, the scent being most pronounced towards evening[245]. Both the bruised and the dried root are very aromatic with a fragrant, somewhat pungent smell that is similar to orris root but more powerful[245].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at 18°c[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in the greenhouse. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division as growth commences in the spring[200]. Dig up the clump and divide it with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that each division has a growing shoot. Larger clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a greenhouse until they are established. Plant them out in the summer or late in the following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Hedychium coronariumButterfly Ginger, White garland-lily, Garland Flower, Butterfly LilyPerennial1.5 8-11 FLMHNMWe222
Hedychium gracile Perennial0.6 8-11  LMHNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Buch.-Ham.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

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