The ecology of Hedychium coronarium has been little studied. It appears to be relatively shade tolerant, as indicated by its growth in partial shade at Kamakou Preserve. It is capable of growing in exposed sites. Exact elevation limits to seed production are not known. White ginger distribution at Kamakou Preserve can be explained by dispersal of rhizome fragments by water or road maintenance machinery.
Dense colonies arise vegetatively by spread of the rhizomes.
However, white ginger is also disruptively invasive on Molokai at Kamakou Preserve. It is not found at Waikamoi Preserve. Hedychium coronarium should be controlled at Kamakou, especially in drainages because of a threat to rare mesic shrubland flora in these sites. Kamakou staff has effectively controlled some Hedychium coronarium populations by a combination of manual and mechanical means. These labor-intensive methods are effective on invasive ginger species in Hawaii.