[1] E. fulgens is used as an ornamental plant in landscape gardens for its bright red flowers and young leaves.

[citation needed] Etlingera fulgens can be recognized by its shiny undulating leaves that are dark green in colour.

Crushed leaf sheaths emit a pleasant sour fragrance similar to that of Etlingera elatior.

[3] Chlorogenic acid found in leaves of E. fulgens was higher in content than Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), the commercial source.

Oils of E. fulgens consist mainly of dodecyl acetate (21.6%), an ester, and pentadecanol (14.1%) and hexadecanol (3.60%), both long-chain alcohols.