White Butterfly Ginger
Hedychium coronarium is by far the most fragrant ginger that I grow in my collection. Here in Florida they aren’t a rare plant, but they are far from ordinary. When a large stand of them is in bloom, you can smell them from anywhere in your yard. The flowers have been used as a source of perfume for many years.
The flowers of this ginger really do look like a white butterfly. The key to growing it is that it likes a lot of water, and is a heavy feeder. Here in Florida, it can be invasive in wetlands. I have seen naturalized stands of it growing along the side of rivers here.
Origin: India
Family
Zingiberaceae
Binomial nomenclature
Hedychium coronarium
Common names
White butterfly ginger, perfume ginger
Description
Hedychium coronarium grows dense clusters of tall upright pseudostems with opposite lanceolate leaves, which grow from underground rhizomes. Highly fragrant, white, butterfly shaped, corollas emerge sequentially from between the green bracts of the terminal inflorescence.
Height
3′-6′
Temperature/Zone
USDA zone 7a, 20°F. I’ve heard a lot of differing opinions on the temperature requirements for this plant. One person claimed to be growing them in Michigan, and that they come back from dormancy every Spring. I find this hard to believe, but they are more tolerant of Winter temperatures than most gingers. Here in Florida they do not go completely dormant. They stop growing, but the foliage continues to live until the following Spring. In Spring they grown new shoots and the foliage from the previous year begins to die.
Light
Sun to part shade. I have found that they bloom more prolifically in brighter sun, but they tend to look a little yellow and burned. In more shade, they bloom less, but the foliage looks much better. The more sun they get, the more water they will need.
Water
Hydration is the key to growing this ginger. This plant likes to grow in flood plains naturally, so don’t let it dry out during the growing months. This plant is a particularly good choice for low lying areas where water tends to collect. Keep them evenly moist during the warm months.
Fertilizer
I use a balanced fertilizer while they are growing. Use a fertilizer with more phosphorus if it is not blooming well. H. coronarium is a heavy feeder, so it is best to fertilize more frequently with less concentrated fertilizer.
Cultivation
White butterfly ginger is a very easy ginger to grow. I have found it to be just as successful in the ground as it is in containers. It prefers rich, well drained soil. Simply plant the rhizome 1″ deep, and keep evenly moist.
Pests
Scale insects, aphids, and mealy bugs sometimes attack them, most frequently on the inflorescence, but sometimes the tender new growth as well. I use the systemic insecticide imidacloprid.
