Hedychium coronarium ( white ginger lily )
Beautiful citrus scented white blooms are born in late summer to late autumn atop the tropical foliage and sturdy lush green stems.
Producing both edible blooms and edible tubers, the flowers are used in teas and for making flavoursome pasted for cooking, the rhizomes used in stews and casseroles, curry’s and fried snack dishes. They’re a practical yet pretty addition to any tropical garden.
Early morning sunlight or filtered shade throughout the day is perfect for these plants. They are fairly drought resistant once well-established but often have the best foliage and flower best under average moist to moist conditions. A good mulch cover helps when growing gingers in dry areas.
Often, water infused by the flowers is used as a hair tonic due to the softening effect the decoction has on dry hair and he lovely fragrance it leaves behind.
Care
These plants need some sun to bloom but like to have dampish feet so do best in a sheltered but sunny area. I grow mine in a spot that gets sun until midday, and they bloom well and require no maintenance or watering now theyre established.
Germination
You will receive one rhizome with growth nodes on it. Plant this in pots until after the last frost and keep it warm, sheltered and lightly damp. This will activate the growth and by spring you will have a small plant you can transfer to your garden.
While they do love to have lightly damp soils, they require free draining soils to avoid root rot.
Usage
Decoction of rhizomes is used for gargling in tonsillitis or simply as a mouth wash to avoid bad breath. The herb is used as a febrifuge, tonic, and anti-rheumatic. Rhizome paste is applied to bruises and sprains. Widely used in Ayurveda as well as in perfumery It is useful in treating nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, halitosis, and hiccups. It is also great for calming inflamed skin and softening hair.