A few years ago when my work still demands me to periodically visit far regions in the country, i got some tubers of Hedychium coronarium from a roadside in Bohol. We call it kamya/kamia/camia, known for its subtle fragrance. I remember planting its tubers at the side of the garden with a little bit elevated land. I know the soil there is not as fertile as the rest of the garden, so thought it will lessen the height of these plants, if ever they will survive the dry season. Last year it produced a few dwindling flowers, maybe 2-3 blooms, but i didn't notice the scent that time. Then i forgot all about it. I didn't even check if they are still there behind profuse growth of the Hippeastrum hedge.
Yes they survived the last year's drought, and last weekend i was at home its presence was surely noticed. The sweet scent permeates the garden and mingled with us while we converged at the terrace. It was nicely situated on top of other plants with the whites visibly dangling like moths against the green background. That was a very delightful sight. I can forgive its invasiveness, promise!
Hedychium coronarium is both an ornamenta and medicinal plant of the ginger family. The young flower buds and flowers are reported to be eaten as food, while all the other parts of the plants are medicinal. It was said that it also has very high antioxidant properties. For some summary of the uses here is one of the references: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kamia.html
That is a lovely plant! I was not familiar with it until I read this post. Your photos and your description almost make me feel like I can smell the sweet blooms. Wow--great photos straight out of your camera!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth, i am so enamored with this plant starting when i smelled it while sitting on our terrace having coffee. Isn't that wonderful. I don't regret my scourging it from the roadside in a very far province.
DeleteI too wasn't familiar with it either - great captures!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for visit.
Hi Lola, this is a tropical plant so it is not surprising if you are not familiar with it, haha!
DeleteI have not come across this plant in my country. The flowers are really lovely and I'm partial to plants from the ginger family.
ReplyDeleteElsie, you should look for this, as the scent is really very pleasant. The only thing not so nice is the seasonality of flowering, only once a year. I just don't know if it just depends on our climate.
DeleteThis is indeed a lovely white butterfly.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers must have a lovely scent to enjoy.
I can only wish in my dreams to have such a beautiful plant stay alive in my dry, dry, dry garden. The ginger family has so many scented relations, unfortunately even the hardiest give up the ghost in my dry area.
ReplyDeleteOh Arija, i didn't know your area is so dry, thought Australia except the Outback is better than ours. Our dry season is sometimes long too, fruit trees die too 2 yrs ago. So i made a cement tank and 2 plastic tanks to impound rainwater.
DeleteI know these smell so sweet. I had this plant long ago and then with multiple shifting i lost it.
ReplyDeleteI must get it now.
Thank you for showing.
Hi Indrani, i am glad i was able to remind you of something love that has gone by!
Deletelovely flowers
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers and plant. I wish I could smell their scent. Beautiful photos, have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteSo delightful...in color and shape of the flowers...and being on a small incline makes the view all the more pleasant!!
ReplyDeleteHi! Nice captures. They are very beautiful. Yes I agree with you, and these flowers look like butterflies too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWonderful information about a plant I have never seen. Does it require a tropical setting? I assume in a place like mine where we have cold winters, I would have to treat it as a house plant. I am very curious and also wonder if it is poisonous to animals. Your pictures are beautiful and I would love to smell the sweet smell. Thank you for being so informative ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ Form The Sol
Hello Andrea from Andrea! This sounds funny but i love talking to someone with my name too. This is a tropical plant, i haven't checked of the temperature ranges it can survive. I guess you just need a greenhouse, many friend bloggers maintain lovely growths of tropical plants there. Someone in Alberta, Canada and a friend in London raise wonderful tropical plants, i am sure this will grow there too, and yours too. Maybe you can google for it and you will see a lot of information about it. White ginger oil is also available in some countries.
DeleteThose are quite beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteI love Ginger flowers, so I can imagine how this little flower smells. White butterflies indeed. Dianne
ReplyDeleteHello Dianne, it is seldom that i see you here, so thanks for the occassional visits. Yes the scent is heavenly and will not tire you through time.
DeleteThese flowers are really beautiful. The blossoms are so pretty. Wish I could also smell the scent!
ReplyDeleteYou can try looking for oils of Hedychium coronarium or white ginger, i am sure you will love it.
DeleteOh I love them and the scent. I can't remember exactly but a hotel I once stayed had toiletries that had white ginger scent. I wasn't sure what white ginger was but the scent was familiar. So I google imaged white ginger and out popped on the page pictures of camia.
ReplyDeleteThe essential oils of camia are difficult to find. One day I'm going to splurge and buy camia and ylang ylang oils.
Yes its scent is so lovely, calming and soothing, not "nakakasawa". If only i can produce a lot of plants with flowers i will get the essential oil, even if not so pure the scent is still very in-demand! The problem is it just flowers once a year!
DeleteOh how lucky that is survived and seems to be thriving..I love the name and the reason behind it..Michlle
ReplyDeleteThese beautiful flowers beckon one to smell their fragrance...they just have to smell heavenly.
ReplyDelete