Family: Zingiberaceae

Burbidgea schizocheila (golden brush, golden ginger, voodoo flame ginger) is a striking ornamental plant native to the tropical rainforests of Borneo. It is prized for its unusual, fiery-looking flower heads that resemble golden-orange brushes or flames. The plant grows as a compact understory shrub with glossy green leaves, making it well suited for shaded tropical gardens. It is mainly used as a decorative landscape plant for its bold texture and long-lasting blooms, and it is sometimes grown in botanical collections and specialty tropical plantings.

At this time, Burbidgea schizocheila is not considered a major invasive threat in Hawaiʻi or other tropical regions. It tends to be slow growing and is usually propagated intentionally rather than spreading aggressively on its own. However, like many ornamental tropical plants, it should be monitored if planted near natural forest areas, as any introduced species has the potential to establish outside cultivation under favorable conditions. Responsible planting and proper garden management help ensure this unique plant remains an asset to gardens without posing a risk to native ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
  
• Limited ecological information reduces accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization in genus
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• May require specialized pollinators to produce seeds