Hedychium is a genus of flowering plants in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, native to lightly wooded habitats in Asia. There are approximately 70-80 known species, native to India, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar. Some species have become widely naturalized in other lands, and considered invasive in some places. The genus name Hedychium is derived from two ancient Greek words, meaning "sweet" and meaning "snow". This refers to the fragrant white flower of the type species H. coronarium. Common names include garland flower, ginger lily, and kahili ginger. Members of the genus Hedychium are rhizomatous perennials, commonly growing tall. Some species are cultivated for their exotic foliage and fragrant spikes of flowers in shades of white, yellow and orange. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which 'Tara' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Though reasonably hardy down to , it requires a sheltered position and a deep mulch in winter. Selected species Hedychium aureum C.B.Clarke & G.Mann ex Baker Hedychium chingmeianum N.Odyuo & D.K.Roy Hedychium chrysoleucum Hook. - gold spot ginger lily Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. Hedychium coronarium J.Koenig Hedychium deceptum N.E.Br. (synonym - H. rubrum) Hedychium densiflorum Hedychium elatum R.Br. ex Ker Gawl. Hedychium ellipticum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. - shaving brush ginger Hedychium flavum Roxb. Hedychium flavescens Carey ex Roscoe Hedychium forrestii Diels (synonym - H. dekianum A.S.Rao & D.M.Verma Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker Gawl. Hedychium gomezianum Wall. Hedychium gracile Roxb. - Salmon ginger lily Hedychium greenii W.W.Sm. Hedychium griersonianum R.M.Sm. Hedychium griffithianum Wall. Hedychium larsenii Dan & C.S.Kumar Hedychium longipedunculatum A.R.K.Sastry & D.M.Verma Hedychium marginatum C.B.Clarke Hedychium nagamiense Sanoj, M.Sabu & V.P.Thomas Hedychium raoii Hedychium samuiense Hedychium spicatum Sm.- called kapur kachari in Hindi Hedychium stenopetalum Lodd. Hedychium thyrsiforme Hedychium urophyllum Lodd. Hedychium villosum Wall. Hedychium wardii C.E.C. Fisch. (synonym - H. efilamentosum Hand.-Mazz.) Hedychium ziroense V.Gowda & Ashokan Taxonomy and phylogeny In 2000, Tom Wood et al. published the first phylogeny of the genus Hedychium represented by 29 taxa. Reproductive biology Hedychium has multiple modes of reproduction: sexual, via rhizomes and via bulbils. Some species of Hedychium are reported to exhibit facultative vivipary. See also List of plants known as lily References External links http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/Subtropicals.html Zingiberaceae genera