Plants in family zingiberaceae
Hedychium coccineum
Hedychium coccineum, commonly known as the hardy ginger lily, is a striking herbaceous perennial native to southern China and the Himalayas. It thrives in partial to full sun and is known for its vibrant flower spikes that can reach 18 inches tall, displaying a range of colors from red to orange to yellow. This plant blooms from late summer through early fall, adding a splash of color to garden edges and mountain grasslands. Its dark peachy orange flowers with a darker center are particularly eye-catching.
Hedychium coronarium
Hedychium coronarium, also known as butterfly ginger, is a perennial flowering plant in the ginger family, native to the forest understory of Asia. It is celebrated for its heavily scented white flowers with yellow bases, which bloom from late summer until frost. This plant is cultivated for its ornamental beauty and aromatic oil, and it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. In warmer climates, it remains evergreen, while in regions with mild winters, it is deciduous. It prefers slightly moist, well-drained soils and is known for its honeysuckle-like fragrance. However, it can be invasive in certain regions outside its native range.
Boesenbergia hamiltonii
Boesenbergia hamiltonii is a unique perennial found in the moist mountain forests of northeast India. It features pleated, canna-shaped leaves and striking white flowers with a carmine face. This plant is remarkably hardy, surviving temperatures as low as 9°F. It thrives in part sun to light shade and is known for its drought tolerance. The plant's tropical appearance makes it a standout in any garden, and it is suitable for both sun and shade perennial gardens.
Maranta 'Beauty Kim'
Maranta 'Beauty Kim' is a low-maintenance plant with big oval-shaped leaves and fascinating foliage. It is easy to care for and propagate, making it a popular choice for indoor plant enthusiasts.
Curcuma longa
This plant is valued for its culinary and health benefits, cultivated for its underground rhizomes with a distinct yellow color and warm, earthy flavor. It thrives in full sun and consistently moist soil, producing large, lush green leaves and bright yellow flowers.
Maranta 'Lemon Lime'
Maranta 'Lemon Lime' is an evergreen perennial native to Central and South America, recognized for its flat oval leaves with a symmetrical line pattern. This plant is easy to care for and pet-friendly, making it a popular choice for indoor environments.
Hedychium flavescens
Hedychium flavescens, a perennial flowering plant native to the Himalayas and surrounding regions, is known for its tall, 6-foot stalks and clusters of creamy yellow flowers with a lemony fragrance. This shade-tolerant plant thrives in a variety of soils and can regrow from rhizome fragments, although it is considered invasive in some areas like New Zealand. Its large flower heads bloom in early October, adding a late-season burst of color and scent to gardens. Despite its invasive potential, it is appreciated for its ornamental value and ability to attract pollinators.
Alpinia japonica
Alpinia japonica, or hardy ginger lily, is a compact plant with arching stalks and fragrant green leaves. It produces white flowers with red striping in late spring, adding a tropical touch to gardens. This plant is well-suited for part sun to light shade conditions.
Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata'
Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata', also known as Shell Ginger, is a striking foliage plant with large leaves featuring yellow and green stripes. It can be grown in the ground or in containers, making a great accent or centerpiece for poolside pots.
Curcuma petiolata
Curcuma petiolata, also known as Pine Cone Ginger or Jewel of Thailand, is a tropical plant with large leaves and flowers resembling purple pine cones. Native to Southeast Asia, it grows 2-3 feet tall and blooms from mid to late summer. This plant is cultivated for its ornamental flowers and variegated foliage, thriving in part sun to light shade.
Hedychium greenii
Hedychium greenii is a striking plant native to Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, India, featuring dark olive green leaves with red undersides and vibrant orange-red flowers. Blooming from mid-July until fall, this plant reproduces by plantlets on old flower stalks. It is known for its hardiness, having survived winter temperatures as low as 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Its unique foliage and flowers make it a captivating choice for gardeners seeking a tropical look.
Zingiber mioga
Zingiber mioga, a hardy edible ginger from Japanese woodlands, produces 3-foot tall stalks with parchment gold leaves that become flecked green. It features yellow orchid-like flowers at ground level in late summer and can survive temperatures as low as -15°F.
Hedychium thyrsiforme
Hedychium thyrsiforme is a compact plant from the Eastern Himalayas, reaching 4 feet in height. It features terminal clusters of narrow white petals with long filaments, blooming in late summer. This plant prefers light shade or early morning sun and is known for its fragrant flowers, making it a delightful addition to any garden.
Elettaria cardamomum
Elettaria cardamomum, commonly known as cardamom, is a fragrant perennial plant in the ginger family native to southern India. It grows 2-4 meters tall and is cultivated for its seeds, which are used as a spice in various cuisines. This plant thrives in tropical regions and is suitable for woodland gardens.
Curcuma zedoaria
Curcuma zedoaria is a perennial herb native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its large, tropical-looking green leaves with a purple-red stripe. It bears yellow flowers with red and green bracts and has an edible rhizome with a mango-like fragrance. This plant is used in various cuisines and traditional medicine, thriving in tropical and subtropical wet forest regions.
Curcuma alismatifolia
This plant features an upright structure with blooms that appear on a scape above the foliage. The pink blossoms emerge from late spring through fall, adding a splash of color to the garden.
Maranta 'Silver Band'
Maranta 'Silver Band' is a tropical houseplant known for its striking leaves with a wide silver band down the center. This easygoing plant thrives in low light and is pet-friendly, making it a popular choice for indoor spaces. Its symmetrical silver veins and matte green leaves add a touch of elegance to any room. The plant is low-maintenance and can be a rewarding addition to a home or office environment.
Maranta 'Red Prayer'
Maranta 'Red Prayer' is an evergreen perennial native to Central and South America, known for its flat oval leaves with a symmetrical line pattern. This plant is easy to care for and pet-friendly, thriving in low-light conditions and making it a popular choice for indoor plant enthusiasts.
Hedychium gracile
Hedychium gracile is a rare dwarf species from India, notable for its tiny star-like white flowers with orange-red stigmas that bloom in late summer. This plant is well-suited for small gardens and can thrive in sun to part sun conditions. It is also resistant to rabbits, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners.
Hedychium 'Four Way'
Hedychium 'Four Way' is a compact hybrid ginger plant reaching 48 inches tall, known for its large, fragrant flowers in light peachy pink with a darker orange throat. It thrives in sun to part sun and is rabbit resistant, making it a striking addition to gardens.
Hedychium 'Elizabeth'
Hedychium 'Elizabeth' is a towering ginger lily known for its impressive 9-foot tall stalks and clusters of giant, brilliant reddish-orange flowers. The blooms emit a honeysuckle-like fragrance in the late afternoon, attracting pollinators such as hummingbirds. This plant thrives in full sun to part sun and is well-suited for tropical-looking gardens. 'Elizabeth' is a standout choice for adding height and vibrant color to garden landscapes.
Curcuma elata
Curcuma elata is a giant perennial native to Indochina, reaching 6 feet tall with bold-textured leaves. It is the earliest curcuma to flower, producing 2-foot tall spikes with bright pink bracts and yellow flowers in mid-June. This maintenance-free plant thrives in light shade to partial sun and is a rich nectar source for bees.
Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange'
Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange' is a ginger plant with a rich history, collected at high elevations in Assam, India. It forms a 3-foot clump topped with short spikes of tiny flowers in mid to late summer. Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this plant is a standout for its vibrant orange blooms and ability to attract pollinators.
Hedychium 'Tai Golden Goddess'
Hedychium 'Tai Golden Goddess' is a tropical-looking plant with 6-foot tall stalks and sweetly fragrant, golden-orange flowers that bloom in late summer. This plant is known for attracting hummingbirds and is suitable for sunlit garden areas. Its vibrant flowers and towering presence make it a standout in any landscape.
Hedychium 'Pradhanii'
Hedychium 'Pradhanii' is a striking plant with dozens of 7-foot tall stalks and large spikes of light peach-colored flowers. The flowers have a peach-colored throat that changes to yellow near the petal ends and emit a light honeysuckle fragrance. Blooming from late summer until frost, this plant adds a tropical touch to gardens. It is appreciated for its height and ability to attract pollinators, making it a standout choice for landscapes.
Curcuma 'Summer Snow'
Curcuma 'Summer Snow' is a hardy ginger known for its red stems and hidden cone-shaped flowers that appear in September. This plant emerges from dormancy in mid-June, with giant green leaves reaching up to 6 feet in height. It thrives in both sun and light shade, making it a versatile choice for gardens. Curcuma 'Summer Snow' adds a tropical touch to landscapes with its lush foliage and unique floral display.
Hedychium densiflorum 'Stephen'
Hedychium densiflorum 'Stephen' is a perennial plant discovered in the Dudh Kosi Valley, Nepal, at an elevation of 9,000 feet. It grows up to 3 feet tall and features narrow foliage with slender flower heads of fragrant, butterscotch-yellow flowers. This plant blooms from late July to late September and is a delightful addition to gardens, attracting insects with its fragrance.
Zingiber officinale
Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, is an herbaceous perennial with stems 2 to 3 feet tall and narrow green leaves. It is traditionally used for gastrointestinal issues and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Zingiber mioga 'Crugs Zing'
Zingiber mioga 'Crugs Zing' is a quick-spreading plant from Shikoku, Japan, with dark green leaves and upright fleshy stalks. It forms an 8-foot wide patch in five years and produces orchid-like burgundy and yellow bicolor flowers from September until a hard freeze.
Hedychium 'Tai Empress'
Hedychium 'Tai Empress' is a 5-foot tall ginger plant with lightly fragrant, salmon-pink flowers. It thrives in moist soils during the summer and is a striking addition to any garden.