Kahali Ginger Hedychium gardnerianum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hed-EE-kee-um gard-nair-ee-AH-num
- Description
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Kahali Ginger is an herbaceous, flowering perennial in the ginger family native to India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It has thick fleshy rhizomatous roots that spread and form colonies. Kahali Ginger is an erect and clumping plant that can reach a mature height of 8 feet with tropical-looking foliage. The flowers are very fragrant, blooming in late summer. Kahali Ginger is considered an invasive plant in Hawaii where each plant will spread rapidly by stolons, creating dense mats that crowd out other plants. The conspicuous, fleshy, red seeds are dispersed by birds as well as man.
These tropical plants prefer moist, well-drained, organically rich soils in full sun. They lend a tropical look to the garden as well as fragrant flowers. Use in groups, borders or containers. They are typically grown as an ornamental in containers, but it can tolerate an occasional frost. While best taken indoors in winter months, it can be maintained in a warm, sheltered spot with deep mulch and where temperatures do not fall below freezing.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hedychium
- Species:
- gardnerianum
- Family:
- Zingiberaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- India, Nepal, and Bhutan
- Distribution:
- Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Central America.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and small mammals will eat the fruits
- Edibility:
- Roots are edible but not flavorful
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Three-part capsules change from green to brown as they ripen in the late fall. Each contains a fleshy orange aril.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant pale yellow and red flowers in dense spikes above the foliage appear towards the end of summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Long, bright green leaves clasp the tall stems.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The pseudostems arise from the rhizomes and are composed of long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles similar to canna lilies.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
