There is another plant called Alpinia mutica/False Cardamom Ginger which also has fragrant leaves; it is taller than the plant I have.
This link shows many types of ginger plants.
http://www.bambooland.com.au/g...
By the way, if anyone needs or wants Alpinia nutans I have a ton of it and it could stand to be thinned. I have sent it in the mail 3 times and it travels well. Makes a great border or high ground cover. It will die back to the ground when the weather gets cold but if mulched it will come back in the spring. It is my understanding that, yes, it will bloom only on second year growth but that it rarely actually blooms - and the blooms will most likely be hiding under the foliage. Most people grow this type for the look and aroma of the foliage. The Alpinia nutans leaves can be used to flavor rice as it is steaming, or the leaves can be used to wrap food to impart flavor to the food as it cooks, or the leaves can be used to make tea. So in that sense it is an edible plant.
One edible rhizome ginger is the Alpinia galanga which can grow 5 - 8 meters tall.
Here are some photos send by my Plant Sister in southeast Asia.
Entire plant (Please ignore the tiny plant on the right in the photo; it is a palm seedling that tagged along.
)
Freshly dug rhizome.
Cleaned and ready for cooking.
