Wild Ginger

Garden Problems

Wild ginger, also known as kahili ginger and ginger lily, is a weed in many parts of New Zealand. It has long spreading rhizomatous roots and form clumps of plants.

Identify the problem
Wild ginger grows up to 2 metres, is shade-tolerant, tolerates most soil types, good or poor drainage and fertility, and is drought and frost tolerant once established. Wild ginger will live many years, is fast growing and forms thick rhizome beds. Little or nothing will grow up through the mats of tubers, and the dense leaves block light and smothers other plants.
Seeds are spread by birds and possibly possums. Rhizomes spread slowly outward from clumps, and new plants are established from rhizome fragments spread in dumped vegetation.
Wild ginger is one of the Dirty Dozen in New Zealand's War on Weeds.
How to solve the problem
Single or Few Clumps
- Cut down and paint stump - cut above pink ‘collar’ at base and apply Weed Weapon Invade Gel. Leave stems and leaves on site to rot down. Dispose of rhizomes at a refuse transfer station or by drying out and burning.
Large Area of Infestation
- Spray with Weed Weapon Extra Strength made up with Dye & Stick for improved performance. If any new growth appears from roots, cut and paste stumps with Weed Weapon Invade Gel. Dispose of rhizomes at a refuse transfer station or by drying out and burning.
Did you know?
- Yellow ginger is similar to Kahlil ginger. It has cream flowers in late autumn and early winter. Yellow ginger does not seed and therefore does not multiply as fast as Kahili.
- Latin names: Yellow ginger - Hedychium flavescens, Kahili ginger - Hedychium gardnerianum.