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Hedychium coronarium - J.König.

Common Name Butterfly Ginger, White garland-lily, Garland Flower, Butterfly Lily
Family Zingiberaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist places along streams and on forest edges[200].
Range E. Asia - India.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Hedychium coronarium Butterfly Ginger, White garland-lily, Garland Flower, Butterfly Lily


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

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid fall. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant 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].

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.
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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Essential  Paper

The stems contain 43 - 48% cellulose and are useful in making paper[218]. An essential oil obtained from the flowers is valued in high grade perfumes[240]. The root contains 1.7% essential oil, which is used medicinally[240].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Massing. Requires a rich moist soil and a sunny position[233]. It succeeds in shallow water[200] and can also be grown in a sunny border as a summer sub-tropical bedding plant[[1]. Plants are not very hardy, they tolerate temperatures down to about -2°c and can be grown at the foot of a south-facing wall in the milder areas of Britain if given a good mulch in the winter[1, 200]. The flowers have a delicious perfume which is most pronounced towards evening[245]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The tubers should be only just covered by soil[233]. Special Features: Not North American native, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

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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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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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

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hunan Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar

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 gracile Perennial0.6 8-11  LMHNM10 
Hedychium spicatum Perennial1.5 7-10  LMHNM122

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

J.König.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

cindy   Sun Apr 2 2006

I bought a couple of the butterfly gingers at the Seattle flower and garden show in Feb. Unfortunately they didn't print the planting depth on the package. Your site is the only one that has furnisted that information. Thank you so much. I looking forward to watching it grow. Hopefully it will do well here, our summers are not always very long!

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Subject : Hedychium coronarium  
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