Hedychium hasseltii

RHS Plant Profile
Java butterfly ginger

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Hedychium hasseltii?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Java butterfly ginger RHS
Conservatory Greenhouse

An erect, rhizomatous perennial to 60cm, with bright green, lance-shaped leaves and loose sprays of fragrant, white flowers turning dark cream with age inlate summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Zingiberaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Hedychium are rhizomatous perennials with erect, unbranched stems bearing two ranks of lance-shaped leaves, and dense terminal racemes of showy, often fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Java

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, indirect light. Provide moderate to high humidity and good ventilation. Water freely in the growing season and feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Keep just moist in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe at 21-24C, or by dividing rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical

Pruning

Remove old stems in winter as they deteriorate

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free