Family: Zingiberaceae

Hedychium greenii (red butterfly ginger) is native to the Himalayan region, where it thrives at elevations of 3,000-5,000′. It is cultivated in Hawaii and other locations for its bright red flowers and attractive foliage with a dull reddish underside. It is unclear if seeds are produced in cultivated plants. Plants are propagated vegetatively using bulbils or plantlets produced on the old inflorescences. It was recently reported as naturalized in the Volcano area of Hawaii island, although negative impacts have not been reported to date.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Hawaii Island
  
• Other species are invasive weeds
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• A functional geophyte, capable of persisting from rhizomes
  
• Reproduces vegetatively by plantlets produced in old inflorescences
  
• Seeds, if produced, are probably bird-dispersed
  
• Plantlets dispersed through intentional cultivation, and possibly as dumped garden waste or by water
  
• Tolerates and resprouts from cutting and pruning
  
• Gaps in knowledge about the reproductive biology may reduce the accuracy of the risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or negative impacts associated with cultivation
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Reported to be non-toxic
  
• Seed production is rarely mentioned and may be limited or absent in cultivated plants. Propagated vegetatively with plantlets.
  
• Bulbils or plantlets may have limited dispersibility, minimizing risk of accidental or long-distance dispersal
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control