Aframomum melegueta

Aframomum melegueta, commonly known as grains of paradise, is a tropical ginger originating from West Africa cultivated for its pungent, peppery seeds used as an alternative to black pepper. The plant grows much like a Hedychium with a strong rhizomatous structure with long, narrow leaves on strong stems rising to five feet tall. Trumpet-shaped purple flowers emerge at the stem tips and produce seed pods filled with reddish-brown seeds. Once mature, the pods are harvested and dried before removing the seeds. Protect from winter cold in a frost-free area or use as a potted houseplant. Photo: Wikipedia.