If I had viable garden space, I would want to grow one of these flowers. White Butterfly ginger (hedychiums) are considered one of the most attractive of all ginger flowers.
Ginger flowers are commonly known as Ginger lily. They are also related to the common ginger root used in cooking.
It is a popular landscape plant for warmer states such as Florida, Texas, California and Hawaii .
The one pictured here is the White Butterfly Ginger. It has green stalks that grow from thick rhizomes (root). From the middle of summer through autumn, the stalks will have long clusters of fragrant white flowers. Flowers that resemble butterflies, hence the name.
Here is the Houston Chronicle’s top 3 Butterfly Gingers that I like (out of their top 10 list).
- The rows of red-orange flowers of this striking ginger are arranged to create a loose, bottlebrushlike look.
- The best-known of the butterfly gingers, these large, white, highly fragrant blooms are carried atop 5-foot plants.
- The bright-yellow flowers of this lightly scented summer-fall bloomer have red-orange stamens. Leathery-leafed stalks.
All the other varieties sound really nice. The Red ginger and Kahili ginger remind me of tropical places, such as Hawaii.
The white butterfly ginger seem to be most popular and widely available. Ebay starts at $9 for 2 rhizomes. Not too bad considering those rhizomes will start to multiply in no time!
Beautiful red ginger from Hawaii. Same ginger leaves, but different blossoms. Photo from R.J. Malfalfa via .
Image source:
.
More info:
Top Tropicals - great selection of ginger lily.
Dave’s Garden has lots of photo of white Butterfly ginger and also vendors as well.
Central Florida Farms - Many varieties of ginger lily for sale.
11:10 pm on May 23rd, 2009
I didn’t know that ginger flowers are so pretty. I want to plant some now, I do use it a lot in my cooking and often buy them from the Hmong store.
11:09 pm on May 24th, 2009
I spoke to my mom about the Butterfly ginger flower tonight. She said her friend has some to share.
Thinking back, I remember my dad grew some ginger plants in the backyard. We never cooked with it, just nice to look at.