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Zingiber zerumbet (Awapuhi)
Shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet), is also known in Hawai`i as “awapuhi”. It is an example of a canoe plant – one brought to the Hawaiian Islands by the first Polynesian settlers. The plant has small, white flowers on a pine cone like structure that contains a thick, highly fragrant juice that can be used as a shampoo.
 Zingiber zerumbet Flower |
 Zingiber zerumbet Cones |
Medicinal Uses. In early Hawai`i it was used in various forms as a medicine for treatment of indigestion, headache, sprains, sores and other ailments. Today researchers are investigating potential uses of extracts from the plant in treating several diseases, including some of great contemporary importance like cancer and diabetes. As of October 2022 research involving the plant was published in over 200 scientific papers found on PubMed.
Propagation. The plants are propagated from sections of the ginger-like rhizomes.
Availability. Non-certified rhizomes, with or without stems and leaves may be ordered from our ONLINE STORE. These may be seasonally available because the plant is deciduous. Our plants are grown in the ground so they cannot be produced as Certified Nursery Stock. They may be shipped bare root to all states except Arizona, California, Louisiana and Texas.
 Zingiber zerumbet Leaves |
This page was last updated on October 5, 2022.