Hedychium coronarium: Country Or Region Of Origin
India, Eastern Himalayas to Java
Plant Profile: Hedychium coronarium
Taxonomy: Hedychium coronariumNames
Butterfly Ginger, Butterfly Lily, Cinnamon Jasmine, Garland Flower, Ginger Lily, White Garland Lily, White Ginger
Phonetic Spelling:hed-IH-kee-um kor-oh-NAIR-ee-um
Genus:Hedychium
Species:coronarium
Family:Zingiberaceae
The blossoms of Hedychium coronarium are notable for their size and delightful fragrance, thriving on plants that flourish in hot, humid summers and require consistently moist soil. This species is ideally suited for growth in USDA zones 8 to 10, although it can also survive in zone 7 if placed in sheltered spots with ample winter mulch. The name Hedychium translates to "sweet snow," likely alluding to either the aromatic white flowers or the pale interiors of its edible, spicy tubers.
For those cultivating these plants in containers in cooler climates, it is advisable to bring them indoors during winter, placing them in a greenhouse or a cool, dry area that remains free from frost.
Hedychium coronarium Feature Summary
Hedychium coronarium Image Gallery
Tags
#fragrant
#white
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#edible plant
#white flowers
#perennial bulb
#salt tolerant
#riparian
#fall interest
#wetlands
#moist soil
#well-drained soil
#summer flowers
#rhizomes
#tender bulb
#humidity tolerant
#wet soils tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#tropical feel
#container plants
Similar Plants
Hedychium coronarium Feature Summary
Attributes
India, Eastern Himalayas to Java
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America, Asia, Australia.
Store for winter in slightly moist vermiculite or peat in a cool, dry location.
Tubers are spicy.
Perennial
Bulb
Flowers
Dense elliptical racemes (4-8” long). Individual flowers may look like white butterflies (leading to the common name Butterfly Lily).
White
Raceme
Fragrant
Showy
Summer
Fall
Leaves
lance-shaped, medium green leaves (to 2' long x 5” wide)
Green
Elliptical
Oblanceolate
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Stem
Landscape
Heat
Humidity
Wet Soil
Salt
Container
Riparian
Hedychium coronarium Image Gallery
Hedychium coronarium Attributes
Hedychium coronarium: Distribution
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America, Asia, Australia.
Hedychium coronarium: Bulb Storage
Store for winter in slightly moist vermiculite or peat in a cool, dry location.
Hedychium coronarium: Edibility
Tubers are spicy.
Hedychium coronarium: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Hedychium coronarium: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Hedychium coronarium Flowers
Hedychium coronarium: Flower Description
Dense elliptical racemes (4-8” long). Individual flowers may look like white butterflies (leading to the common name Butterfly Lily).
Hedychium coronarium: Flower Color
White
Hedychium coronarium: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Hedychium coronarium: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Hedychium coronarium: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Hedychium coronarium Leaves
Hedychium coronarium: Leaf Description
lance-shaped, medium green leaves (to 2' long x 5” wide)
Hedychium coronarium: Leaf Color
Green
Hedychium coronarium: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Hedychium coronarium: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Hedychium coronarium: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Hedychium coronarium: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Hedychium coronarium Whole Plant Traits
Hedychium coronarium: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Hedychium coronarium: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Hedychium coronarium Cultural Conditions
Hedychium coronarium: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Hedychium coronarium: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Hedychium coronarium: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Hedychium coronarium: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Hedychium coronarium: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Hedychium coronarium Stem
Hedychium coronarium: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Hedychium coronarium Landscape
Hedychium coronarium: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Hedychium coronarium: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
