Alpinia arctiflora is a rhizomatous herb, meaning that the stem takes the form of an underground rhizome with only the leafy shoots and flowers appearing above ground.

The calyx persists at the tip of the capsule, and it holds numerous black or brown seeds about 3 mm (0.12 in) diameter.

[7] The snow ginger was first described in 1873 by the Victorian Government botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, published in his massive work Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae as Hellenia arctiflora.

In the same year George Bentham renamed the species Alpinia arctiflora, publishing it in his own work Flora Australiensis.

[2][3] The genus name Alpinia was given in honour of the Italian botanist Prospero Alpini.