The scent arrives before the plant does with Hedychium coronarium, the White Ginger Lily. Erect canes of long bright green leaves carry terminal heads of pure white butterfly-shaped flowers whose fragrance carries across a courtyard on a still evening.
It is planted in fragrant borders, along water feature margins and as understorey mass in shaded beds, and it is cut for the vase as often as it is left standing.
Specifications
Height1.5 to 2.5 metres
Width1 to 1.5 metres, spreading from the rhizome
Native toThe eastern Himalaya and southern China
FoliageLong, lance-shaped bright green leaves on erect canes; evergreen in warm climates and dying back where frosted
Growth rateFast
Conditions
SoilPrefers rich, moist soils and tolerates boggy ground and pond margins
LightFull sun to partial shade
WaterHigh; keep consistently moist
ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions
Additional Features
FlowersIntensely fragrant pure white butterfly-shaped flowers in terminal heads, summer into autumn
UsesIdeal for fragrant borders, water feature margins, shaded understorey mass planting and cut flower
SpacingPlant 0.6 to 0.8 metres apart for a continuous mass
Low MaintenanceCut spent canes to the ground; lift and divide when the clump congests
Pest ResistanceGenerally robust where moisture is reliable
Seasonal AppealA long summer and autumn flowering season carried on fresh green foliage
The White Ginger Lily earns its place on fragrance alone, and it fills a damp shaded bed faster than anything woody.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, AustraliaPrepared 08 September 2026