Hedychium

/hɛˈdɪkiəm/ noun

Definition

A genus of flowering plants, commonly known as ginger lilies, native to Asia with fragrant flowers.

Etymology

From Greek *hedys* (sweet) plus *chion* (snow), literally meaning 'sweet snow,' referring to the delicate white or pale flowers. The genus was named for its fragrant blooms.

Kelly Says

Hedychium flowers smell absolutely incredible and are used in perfumes, but the Greek name literally means 'sweet snow'—probably because the pale petals look like snow in tropical gardens where these flowers thrive.

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