Growing
- Forest layer: Herbaceous understorey.
- Growth habit & lifespan: Perennial, dies back to the rhizome over winter or the dry season, regrows from the rhizome.
- Size: 0.6-1m.
- Site preference: Part shade to full sun, moist humus-rich soil — a good understorey layer for a food forest.
- Water needs / drought tolerance: Moderate to high.
- Fruiting / flowering season: Occasional pale flower spike, mainly grown for the rhizome rather than the flower.
- Propagation: Rhizome division.
- Harvesting technique: The rhizome, culinary and medicinal use.
Permaculture Function
- Permaculture functions: A genuinely productive, shade-tolerant understorey layer for a food forest system.
- Wildlife value: Minor.
- Edibility / medicinal use: Yes, the rhizome, widely used both culinarily and medicinally.
- Companion notes: Pairs well with other shade-tolerant understorey species such as Native Ginger in the deeper-shade parts of a food forest.
Safety & Control
- Toxicity: Not toxic.
- Control method: Not applicable, retain and encourage.