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Hedychium ellipticum F. Buchanan-Hamilton ex J. E. Smith in A. Rees, The Cyclopaedia 16: 2 (1811).
Accepted name Hedychium ellipticum F. Buchanan-Hamilton ex J. E. Smith in A. Rees, The Cyclopaedia 16: 2 (1811).
Synonyms Distribution Description References Comments Hedychium ellipticum is altogether an extremely attractive plant. The leaves are broad and dark green and the arching stems strongly patterned from the dark red edges of the clasping leaf bases and red ligules. The plant produces its magnificent inflorescences at about 1.2 m. The inflorescence bracts are usually green and flat producing a dense cone-like structure from which emerges a mass of densely packed white flowers with long, projecting orange filaments. Although only one flower is produced per bract the inflorescence just gets better and better over a week or longer as more and more flowers open. In full flower, the inflorescences are flat-topped giving a very distinctive appearance. In my experience, Hedychium ellipticum flowers produce a spicy, clove-like scent but even on warm evenings the scent is very elusive. Reports of Hedychium ellipticum having a strong fragrance are I think due to a mislabelled hybrid now known as 'Corelli'.
Although the inflorescence bracts of Hedychium ellipticum are usually flat there is one form in cultivation from Doi Suthep overlooking Chiang Mai in Thailand that has bright green rolled bracts (see images below). The flowers of this distinctive form again have very little fragrance.
Hedychium ellipticum makes a superb container plant for greenhouse or conservatory even when out of flower.