Kahili Ginger

Hedychium gardnerianum

Kahili Ginger

DESCRIPTION

Large herbaceous plant with upright flowering stems to 2.5m tall; spreads via long-lived creeping underground stems. Alternate leaves 20-45cm long by 10-15cm wide with long sheathing base.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Bright yellow flowers (with a single bright red stamen) in clusters 15-45cm long by 15-20cm wide at the tips of upright stems. Capsules 1.5cm long split to reveal bright orange inner surfaces and red seeds.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Native to the Indian sub-continent (Bhutan, Nepal and Northern India) it is a weed of native bushland, rainforests, closed forests, forest margins, watercourses and riparian habitats in sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions (especially near urban areas). Can form vast dense colonies that displace native groundcover vegetation.