Minimum temperature -7C (20 F)

Height to 30 cm. (20 inches)

Bright dapple shade to full sun. Well drained, Rich moist soill

Hemiorchis pantlingii. Description: Leaf growth to about 15 inches tall. Petioles tightly clasped giving the impression of a short stem. This is probably the earliest flowering Ginger of our area with the flowers appearing in early spring. The peduncle grows to about 6 inches tall bearing a head of buds covered with bracts opening successively over a period of 3 weeks to a month. Individual flowers last about 4 to 5 days. Flowers resemble certain types of terrestrial orchids. Individual flowers are about 1 inch across. Winter dormant. Leaves die down in late autumn and the rhizomes remain underground in winter. Flowers before leaf growth. Rhizomes are elongated and branched and white in color with small growth eyes along the length. Habitat: Eastern Himalayas. Ethnobotany: Not known.(Picture courtesy of Ganesh Mani Pradhan)