Awapuhi
Scientific Name: Zingerber zerumbet
Polynesian Introduced – Common – Medicinal
Description: Awesome understory or full sun specimen. Watch out, like most gingers it has the ability to take over an area. It also is deciduous meaning that it annually loses its foliage after flowering and lays dormant for about 3 months but will pop up bigger and fuller the next season!
Cultural Uses: Medicinally, for cooking (leaves wrapped and flavored meat), drinking and to make one smell better.
Landscape Uses and Care: Anywhere in your garden but remember it dies back annually so you don’t want to put it in a high traffic area or esle it’ll look bare for a few months out of the year.
Awapuhi