Red ginger lily
Hedychium coccineum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It grows 3 m tall. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are dark green above and pale underneath. They often have a purple midrib. The flowers are orange or red.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits a moist fertile soil. In XTBG Yunnan. In Queen Sirikit BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Reunion, SE Asia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten fresh as a vegetable. The rhizome is sliced into pieces and cooked with other vegetables or made into a curry.

Edible parts

Herb, leaves, stems, rhizome, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aemmi pekchi, Kaukyin-gyi, Krokor prey, Ma-mi-niu-mu, Rdeči hedihij

Synonyms

Gandasulium angustifolium (Roxb.) Kuntze; Gandasulium coccineum (Buch.-Ham ex Sm.) Kuntze; Hedychium angustifolium Roxb.; Hedychium aurantiacum Roscoe; Hedychium carneum Roscoe; Hedychium coccineum var. carneum (Roscoe) Baker; Hedychium longifolium Roscoe; Hedychium roscoei Wall. ex Roscoe; Hedychium squarrosum Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.;