Common Name:

General Information

Hedychium gracile is a perennial plant growing about 60cm tall from an underground rhizome.
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a spice.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand.

Habitat

Moist places and on forest edges[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hedychium gracile is native to subtropical and tropical regions in southern Asia. Plants are not very cold-hardy, though they can tolerate short-lived temperatures falling to about -2°c[]. The plant can be grown outdoors in warmer parts of the temperate zone if given some protection in winter.
Requires a rich moist soil and a sunny position[]. It can be grown in a sunny border as a summer sub-tropical bedding plant[[].
The flowers are sweetly scented, the scent being most pronounced towards evening[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
The tubers should be only just covered in soil[].

Edible Uses

Used as a spice[]. No more details are given.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at 18°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in the greenhouse. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts.
Division as growth commences in the spring[]. Dig up the clump and divide it with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that each division has a growing shoot. Larger clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a greenhouse until they are established. Plant them out in the summer or late in the following spring.