Hedychium gracile is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of erect stems around 60cm tall from a tuberous rhizome.

The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a spice.

Hedychium gracile is native to subtropical and tropical regions in southern Asia. Plants are not very cold-hardy, though they can tolerate short-lived temperatures falling to about -2°c

Requires a rich moist soil and a sunny position

The flowers are sweetly scented, the scent being most pronounced towards evening

The tubers should be only just covered in soil