According to PDN the shoots are edible. It does not say if the leaves are.
Bring the plant in before it goes dormant and it will stay evergreen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zingiber mioga 'Dancing Crane'

I disagree with the last post. In my experience, 'Dancing Crane' is deciduous, period. It loses foliage in autumn even in our warm greenhouse. Most gingers are hardy to zones 7 and 8 owe their hardiness to the fact that they go dormant in the winter. 'Dancing Crane' will also go dormant in hot, dry conditions.
Also, the parts used for eating in Japan are the immature flower buds, harvested in late summer before they have emerged from the surrounding mulch.

I found this plant surviving in a suburb of Cleveland Ohio, (for 10 years now!)and while researching it I found that only the young shoots and flower buds are edible. The older rhizomes stems etc. are quite toxic and according to the info in the link even carcinogenic.

Here is a link that might be useful: edibility of Zingiber mioga

The Z. mioga clump is flowering. are the flowers edible? if so, how do you prepare them?

I just got my first harvest of myoga. I'm pickling the flowers in sugar, mirin and sugar
can't wait!

tonbo_landscapes - Do you happen to have a rhizome of this edible ginger for trade?
I'd like to grow one for food.
Here's my trade list-
PLANTS/CUTTINGS:
Abelia Edward Goucher- cuttings
Abelia Francis Mason- cuttings
Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails)-plant
Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda'
Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty'
Allamanda schottii Bush - cuttings
Aloe Vera
American Agave (Century plant) pup - will trade for other agave pup
American Agave, variegated
Aptenia ice plant - cuttings
Artimesia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight' variegated
Asperagus densiflorus "Sprengeri' plant
Calamondin orange - plant
Callisia navicularis (Chain Plant) - cuttings
Callisa repens (Bolivian Jew) - cuttings
Camillia sasanqua pink 'Cleopatra' pink -cuttings
Camillia sasanqua 'Setsugeka', white -cuttings
Camillia red - cuttings
Canna Peach Gigantum rhizome
Canna Florence Vaughn rhizome
Canna Bengal Tiger
Chickasaw Plum cuttings
Chrysanthemums: yellow, violet
Clereodendrum bungei
Climbing Aloe -plant
Conferate Jasmine - cuttings
Cyclamen
Cyperus involucratus (Umbrella Palm) - cuttings
Cynotis somaliensis (Pussy Ears) - cuttings
Delosperma cooperi (Hardy Yellow Ice Plant)
Ice plant, purple
Ice plant, variegated
Dioscorea bulbifera (Air Potato Vine) tuber
Duranta erecta 'Gold Mound' - cuttings
Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers' - cuttings
Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum' (Pothos)
Fig tree - cuttings
Gardenia - cuttings
Gaura, white - cuttings
Golden pothos - cuttings
Heliconia Hanging Crab Claw
Hibiscus cuttings - several types - red (single petal), red lantern),............ 'Double Peach', orange (double petal), orange (lantern), pink (single with red throat)
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 3-in-1 rotted plant/cuttings
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon minerva, purple
Hibiscus Rose Of Sharon, white cutting
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 'Blue Bird' cutting
Jasmine shrub cuttings (from overseas with small white star-shaped, single-petaled fragrant flowers)
Kalanchoe diagremontiana (Mother of Thousands)
Kalanchoe fedschenkoi - plant
Kalanchoe tubiflora (Chandelier Plant) - plant
Lantana Camara (Lantana, mixed)
Lantana creeping purple - cuttings
Lemon, yellow- plant
Lily, pink - plant
Lily , white- plant
Live Oak Seedlings
Longanberry plant
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) - cuttings
Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) - cuttings
Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Tree) - cuttings
Malvaviscus arboreus var Mexicanus (Cardinal's Hat - cuttings
Mexican Petunia - tall, Purple
Mexican Petunia - tall, Pink
Mexican Petunia - dwarf, purple
Mexican Petunia - dwarf, Pink
Mint, chocolate - plant
Nephrolepis cordifolia (Southern Sword Fern) - plants
Odontonema strictum. Red Firespike - cuttings
Oleander (have 4 types) - white, pink, yellow, red - cuttings
Optunia ficus indica (Smooth Prickly Pear) pads
Palm Pindo - seedlings
Philodendron 'Brasil' cuttings
Plumeria, white -cutting
Podocarpus macrophyllus (Buddhist Pine) - cuttings
Pyracantha Scarlet Firethorn - cuttings
Rain Lily Pink - plants
Rain Lily white - plants
Rose cuttings - Almost Black
Rose cuttings - red climber -profuse bloomer
Rose cuttings - shrub, huge blooms, pink - profuse bloomer
Russelia equisetiformis (Firecracker Plant) - select either red or yellow
Salvia Coral Nymph
Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage
Scilla
Society Garlic
Spider Plant - green
Spider Plant, variegated
Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Variegata'
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Confederate Jasmine) cuttings
Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'
Wandering Jew variegated cream and green - cuttings
Wandering Jew Variegated green and white stripes - cuttings
Wandering Jew Green with white flowers - cuttings
Wisteria Purple -cuttings

Thanks...Jen

tonbo_landscapes - Do you happen to have a rhizome of this edible ginger for trade?
I'd like to grow one for food.
Here's my trade list-
PLANTS/CUTTINGS:
Abelia Edward Goucher- cuttings
Abelia Francis Mason- cuttings
Acalypha hispaniolae (Cat tails, Kitten's tails)-plant
Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda'
Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty'
Allamanda schottii Bush - cuttings
Aloe Vera
American Agave (Century plant) ­ pup - will trade for other agave pup
American Agave, variegated
Aptenia ice plant - cuttings
Artimesia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight' variegated
Asperagus densiflorus "Sprengeri' plant
Calamondin orange - plant
Callisia navicularis (Chain Plant) - cuttings
Callisa repens (Bolivian Jew) - cuttings
Camillia sasanqua pink 'Cleopatra' pink -cuttings
Camillia sasanqua 'Setsugeka', white -cuttings
Camillia red - cuttings
Canna Peach Gigantum rhizome
Canna Florence Vaughn rhizome
Canna Bengal Tiger
Chickasaw Plum cuttings
Chrysanthemums: yellow, violet
Clereodendrum bungei
Climbing Aloe -plant
Conferate Jasmine - cuttings
Cyclamen
Cyperus involucratus (Umbrella Palm) - cuttings
Cynotis somaliensis (Pussy Ears) - cuttings
Delosperma cooperi (Hardy Yellow Ice Plant)
Ice plant, purple
Ice plant, variegated
Dioscorea bulbifera (Air Potato Vine) tuber
Duranta erecta 'Gold Mound' - cuttings
Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers' - cuttings
Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum' (Pothos)
Fig tree - cuttings
Gardenia - cuttings
Gaura, white - cuttings
Golden pothos - cuttings
Heliconia Hanging Crab Claw
Hibiscus cuttings - several types - red (single petal), red lantern),............ 'Double Peach', orange (double petal), orange (lantern), pink (single with red throat)
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 3-in-1 rotted plant/cuttings
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon minerva, purple
Hibiscus Rose Of Sharon, white cutting
Hibiscus Rose of Sharon 'Blue Bird' cutting
Jasmine shrub cuttings (from overseas with small white star-shaped, single-petaled fragrant flowers)
Kalanchoe diagremontiana (Mother of Thousands)
Kalanchoe fedschenkoi - plant
Kalanchoe tubiflora (Chandelier Plant) - plant
Lantana Camara (Lantana, mixed)
Lantana creeping purple - cuttings
Lemon, yellow- plant
Lily, pink - plant
Lily , white- plant
Live Oak Seedlings
Longanberry plant
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) - cuttings
Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) - cuttings
Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Tree) - cuttings
Malvaviscus arboreus var Mexicanus (Cardinal's Hat - cuttings
Mexican Petunia - tall, Purple
Mexican Petunia - tall, Pink
Mexican Petunia - dwarf, purple
Mexican Petunia - dwarf, Pink
Mint, chocolate - plant
Nephrolepis cordifolia (Southern Sword Fern) - plants
Odontonema strictum. Red Firespike - cuttings
Oleander (have 4 types) - white, pink, yellow, red - cuttings
Optunia ficus indica (Smooth Prickly Pear) pads
Palm Pindo - seedlings
Philodendron 'Brasil' cuttings
Plumeria, white -cutting
Podocarpus macrophyllus (Buddhist Pine) - cuttings
Pyracantha Scarlet Firethorn - cuttings
Rain Lily Pink - plants
Rain Lily white - plants
Rose cuttings - Almost Black
Rose cuttings - red climber -profuse bloomer
Rose cuttings - shrub, huge blooms, pink - profuse bloomer
Russelia equisetiformis (Firecracker Plant) - select either red or yellow
Salvia Coral Nymph
Salvia coccinea Hummingbird Sage
Scilla
Society Garlic
Spider Plant - green
Spider Plant, variegated
Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Variegata'
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Confederate Jasmine) cuttings
Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'
Wandering Jew variegated cream and green - cuttings
Wandering Jew Variegated green and white stripes - cuttings
Wandering Jew Green with white flowers - cuttings
Wisteria Purple -cuttings

Thanks...Jen

My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Japan this summer, and got to eat these flower buds that came out of the ground. We are trying to find someone willing to sell us some plants or roots, so we can grow these at home. We live in Vienna, VA. Does anyone know where we can get some roots to grow? Or is anyone willing to sell us a piece of your plant? Thanks. Tony

I don't know if that's what I have because I don't know much about gingers. I've had the white butterfly ginger for several years. I have to cover it during the winter or it may not come back the following spring. I got another type last spring. That plant is over 5 feet tall now with no signs of flowers. I was thinking it won't bloom when I noticed flower buds coming up from the rizomes. They sort of look like young pine cones on a stick. I had to bring some in so I can get to see the flower, so they wouldn't freeze first.

I have to look into it further but much of the toxicity references on the web relate to ignorance and bad research. Ie the aristolochic acid reference seems to all come from partial cut-and-paste copies of the wikipedia article that refers to the aristolochic acid content of 'wild ginger' Asarum which is not even remotely close to being related to Zingiber mioga as Asarum are not in the Zingiberaceae and not even close.

Tim Chapman