We live in Mexico and have many floral gingers in the garden. One variety smells like cooking ginger...is it safe to eat?? It is green and white (verigated), and has a white flower
Hey John! It sounds like the variegated form of Alpinia zerumbet, and if that matches your plant, you're good to go! All of the Alpinias are edible, with a flavour slightly sweeter than the "true" cooking ginger you're used to. You can also press a spicy-sweet, refreshing drink from the canes, and the flowers are very tasty in salads. Point of fact, most of your "ornamental" gingers are edible, with the exception of Costus (which is not toxic, just not all that tasty)....
If it looks like this it is Alpinia zerumbet, a rhizomic herb. I know they use flowers and leaves to cook and prepare tea. But the rhizome, as Zingiber officinale <Ginger/Jengibre/Kion> is used, local people did not mention any culinary use. I would say enjoy a Tea while admiring this nature´s gift. =) https://twitter.com/MaximoDalmau/status/267528871530868736
