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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Canna Flower
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Smilax herbacea Flowers

Butterfly Lily Hedychium coronarium

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
hed-IH-kee-um kor-oh-NAIR-ee-um
Description

The flowers of Hedychium coronarium are large and fragrant on tropical-appearing plants which like hot and humid summers and consistently moist soils. It will grow best in zones 8-10 but may do well in zone 7 in protected areas with a heavy winter mulch. Hedychium means "sweet snow," which may refer to the fragrant white blooms, or to the white insides of the edible, spicy tubers.

If grown in containers in cooler areas, they should be overwintered indoors in a greenhouse or cool, dry, frost-free location.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Collector’s Garden Beehive Garden, Wake Co
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Daniel Weeks'
'Daniel Weeks'
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#edible plant#white flowers#perennial bulbs#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 plant
 
Hedychium coronarium
Flowers
Hedychium coronarium
Flowers JC Raulston Arboretum
flower and leaves
flower and leaves Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Ginger bud _Lucille Zane
Ginger bud Chatham County Lucille Zane CC BY-ND 4.0
ginger leaf_Lucille Zane
Ginger leaves Chatham county Lucille Zane CC BY-ND 4.0
Ginger flower_Lucille Zane
Ginger flower Chatham County Lucille Zane CC BY-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Daniel Weeks'
'Daniel Weeks'
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#edible plant#white flowers#perennial bulbs#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 plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hedychium
    Species:
    coronarium
    Family:
    Zingiberaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    India, Eastern Himalayas to Java
    Distribution:
    Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America, Asia, Australia.
    Bulb Storage:
    Store for winter in slightly moist vermiculite or peat in a cool, dry location.
    Edibility:
    Tubers are spicy.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Dense elliptical racemes (4-8” long). Individual flowers may look like white butterflies (leading to the common name Butterfly Lily).
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    lance-shaped, medium green leaves (to 2' long x 5” wide)
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Riparian
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity
    Salt
    Wet Soil