Hedychium longicornutum – Perched Gingerwort

The long and thin, but flashy yellow and red/orange flowers are curly in a shape of a ball with a few straight ones standing up like a tiara. Very long white stamens with yellow tips stick out of the flower cluster. You can see this striking inflorescence in the spring. 

This tropical plant in the Zingiberaceae family is related to the popular butterfly gingers. It is commonly known as Perched Gingerwort or Hornbill’s Ginger. It is a small ginger reaching an average 3′ tall that likes shady locations. It is an epiphytic ginger, therefore good drainage and aeration is a must for its roots. It likes moist summers and slightly dry conditions during the winter. I don’t know how much cold it can handle, but temperatures below 45F should be avoided. This is perhaps one of the most bizarre but also most beautiful Hedychiums out there. It is native to Malaysia.

All photos were taken of our mature mother plants, not the exact plants for sale.