Yellow ginger
Hedychium flavescens
Yellow ginger
Description
This plant is a non-woody ginger-scented perennial growing to 2.5 m tall, with massive taro-like rhizomes that are long and shallow-rooted and that grow over each other to form deep beds. Each rhizome segment (4 x 10 cm) usually produces an aerial stem each year. These stems grow to 2.5 m and are erect. Leaves (50 x 10 cm) are alternate and shiny, and point upwards. Flower heads (15 x 10 cm) with fragrant cream-coloured flowers in clusters are produced in May to June. However, no fruit is produced.
Impact
Yellow ginger is long-lived and fast-growing, and forms deep rhizome beds. Rhizomes resprout from any fragment, and can survive for years away from soil. They can also survive crushing and immersion in the sea. No seed is produced so virtually all spread is the result of human activity, such as dumping garden waste.
What to do
Contact your regional council to determine the status of this species and responsibility for control and/or advice on control.
Page last updated: 22 October 2008