Large Cardamom is a perennial herb with subterranean rhizomes and 50-140 aerial leafy shoots. Each shoot has height of 1.7 to 2.6 meters and possess 9 to 13 leaves in each tiller. Leaves are glabrous on both sides with a prominent mid-rib. Inflorescence is a condensed spike with yellowish perianth. Each spike has 10-15 fruits. Fruit is round or oval shape, capsule with reddish brown colour. Each capsule is trilocular with many seeds. 

Large Cardamom is cultivated in the Sub-Himalayan region of North Eastern India. It is grown in cold humid conditions under shade of trees at an altitude between 800-2000 meters above MSL., with an average precipitation of 3000-3500 mm spread over about 200 days and with temperature ranging from 6-30 degree C.