Hedychiums 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.

Hedychium coronarium. This is the real attention-getter in late summer and autumnal as the rich honeysuckle-like fragrance pervades the evening air from the 2" butterfly-like white flowers. The stalks emerge from a thick, slowly growing rhizome and grow through the spring and summer. In late summer, the pinecone-like buds form atop the stems. Soon, the flowers emerge, a few each day, to perfume the air until the first heavy frost.

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Choose a warm position sheltered from cold winds and give a deep winter mulch. An alternative is to grow it in a large container on a warm, sunny patio and to overwinter indoors or under glass.