Hedychium – Ginger Lilies for the

Garden
By Dennis Carey and Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.
www.plantdelights.com
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.772.4794
Introduction

I’ll never forget my first encounter as a preteen with Hedychium coronarium, when my
dad took me to the garden of a local gardener, Rachel Dunham. There, in the midst of her
lawn was a huge clump in full flower. I was amazed how a plant that looked so tropical
and had such fragrant flowers could be so winter hardy and easy to grow. Since Mrs.
Dunham was overly generous, I went home with a huge sack of plants for my own
garden. As with every OCD gardener, this would mark only the beginning of my
hedychium collecting phase, which continues today. Thirty five years later, I would
finally see these in the wild on a botanical expedition to North Vietnam.

At Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden, we currently (2010) grow
88 accessions of hedychium in the garden, representing 11 different species and 56
hybrids. We urge our readers to visit the garden during our fall open house days in order
to see our collection and check out our web site to see our offerings.

Ethnobotanical and Economic uses

Many of the hardy ginger rhizomes are a source of food, spice, and medicine. The
rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium have been used as a flavoring in chewing tobacco, as
an incense, and as a tranquilizer. Hedychium flowers are a symbol of health and good
fortune. They have been woven into Hawaiian leis, and steamed for consumption in
Thailand. In addition, Hedychium coronarium are widely grown as cut flowers.

History in the garden

Hedychiums were popular ornamental plants in European conservatories in the Victorian

era. Oddly, the British never tried growing the plant outside and just assumed it was not
hardy like most of the other gingers. Ultimately, rising fuel prices caused a drop in the
popularity of conservatory plants and Hedychium went out of favor, nearly disappearing
from cultivation. The modern upsurge in their popularity was due to the work of Kew
Gardens botanist, Tony Schilling, who in 1965 went to Nepal and “re-discovered” the
genus. Most hedychiums are not winter hardy in the UK, since they need heat to produce
the sugars needed for winter survival. Only hedychiums from high-elevation cool
climates proved to be reliably hardy in the UK. The release of one such cultivar,
Hedychium ‘Assam Orange’ in the early 1970s, re-ignited the European and American
love for the genus. Since then, hedychium has spread all over the world in warm
temperate gardens. Hedychium coronarium is also the national flower of Cuba.

Breeders have been releasing many new cultivars of hardy gingers over the last 20 years.
Prominent among them are nurserymen Tom Wood of Archer, Florida, Tim Chapman of
St. Gabriel, Louisiana, and retired plant breeder Doyle Smittle of the University of
Georgia. Today, there are over 100 cultivars of hedychium to delight the eyes and noses
of gardeners.
Morphology

Hedychium are deciduous herbaceous perennials with thick, fleshy, branched rhizomes.
Their “stems” are not true stems in the botanical sense. They are more properly called
pseudostems because they are composed of long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles. The
leaves clasp the pseudostem and merge directly with it. Pseudostems and clasping leaves
are common in this group of plants and can also be seen in related plants such as canna,
curcuma and bananas.

The fleshy rhizomes are used for food storage and may be as thick as your forearm or as
slender as a pencil. Most hedychiums grow as terrestrial plants, although there are a few
epiphytic (preferring a tree over the soil). In addition to providing a bold texture in the
garden, the leaves of a few species and cultivars of hedychium have red undersides, while
others have variegated white or yellow irregular spots.

The pine cone-like inflorescences of stunning four-petalled flowers which resemble

butterflies, top the pseudostem during the summer and fall. The inflorescence consists of
a series of overlapping green bracts. Tucked underneath each bract are one or more
flower buds that grow out to the side of the flower spike. The flowers come in a range of
colors including all shades of white, yellow, and orange and are sometimes intensely
fragrant with the scent of honeysuckle or gardenia. Each pseudostem flowers only once
and then is replaced by a new pseudostem. Most hedychium flowers open from the
bottom upward in an indeterminate fashion over the course of several weeks to several
months, each floret lasting only a few days. Hedychium coccineum has a shorter
flowering period, but produces more flowers each day. Hedychium coccineum also
reflushes new pseudostems quickly, so that soon after the plant finishes flowering, then
rests for a few weeks, it bursts into flower again. This is in contrast to Hedychium
coronarium, which produces less flowers each day, but each pseudostems lasts all
summer.

The dry fruits of the hardy gingers are capsules which change from green to brown as
they ripen in the late fall. They split open along 3 seams to expose the brightly colored
(orange) fleshy aril that attracts animals who eat it and spread the seeds. If we have early
frosts, we rarely get seed here in Zone 7b, but if we can escape the early October freezes,
we are rewarded with the attractive seed heads and hedychium seedlings the following
summer.

Although hedychiums come from warm parts of the world, they go through a dormant
period in which the plants die back to the rhizome. After cold winters, they are slow to
re-emerge in the spring because they prefer hot temperatures. Many gardeners think they
have lost their plants but are relieved to see them emerge in June. If you grow
hedychiums as container plants in temperatures above 65 degrees F, they will remain
evergreen.
Taxonomy & Etymology

Hedychiums belong to the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, which includes many useful
herbs and ornamental plants. The kitchen spice, ginger (from Zingiber officinalis), is the
best known and most widely used. Important ornamental cousins include alpinia (shell
ginger), and kaempferia (torch-ginger). The gingers are more distantly related to other
common ornamental plants such as musa (bananas), heliconia, canna, and maranta. All
Zingiberaceae share a common trait in that their flowers produce just one true stamen.
The genus Hedychium consists of about 50 species, with the center of diversity in
southeast Asia, southern China, and the Himalayas.

The genus name is derived from the Greek “hedys” meaning “sweet” and “chion”
meaning “snow”, which refers to the fragrant white flowers of Hedychium coronarium.
Although most Americans pronounce the name as “Heh-DEE-kee-um” or “Heh-DEE-
chee-um”, the rules of Greek pronunciation state that it is properly pronounced “Heh-
DICK-ee-um”.

Culture

Hedychium are loved by temperate gardeners who want to create a tropical look. They
are often combined with other hardy tropicals including canna, musa, colocasia, and other
Zingiberaceae. Other plants that compliment the exotic look of hardy gingers include
acalypha, crocosmia, dahlia, amorphophallus, brugmansia, hemerocallis and curcuma.

In their native habitats, hedychium emerge during the monsoon season and are triggered
to become dormant by dry weather. This roughly corresponds to the winter/summer cycle
in temperate gardens. Gardeners need to keep this in mind when cultivating these plants.
Ginger expert, Tony Schilling, says “treat them to monsoon conditions – warm, wet and
well fed in the summer, and cool and dry in the winter.” If you let your hedychium get
too dry, they will stop flowering. Moist, but not water-logged soils in the summer months
produce the best flowering. While dormant, they prefer drier conditions to avoid winter
root rot. A well-drained, yet moisture retentive soil works best. Hardy gingers crave rich
soils with plenty of organic matter and a near neutral to slightly acid pH.

Hedychium grow fairly quickly once they awaken and thus require plenty of nutrition.
We plant in a soil that is well-amended with compost and organic source nutrients as
recommended by a soil test. You can always supplement with organic fertilizers as
needed.

As a rule hedychium prefer full to part sun. Hedychium greenii and Hedychium
coronarium can even grow with only a couple of hours of sun per day. As you head
further into the deep South, light shade may be preferred especially when irrigation is
limited. Just keep in mind that less light equals to less flowers.

Hedychiums make great potted plants...provided you have very large pots. Hedychiums
grow so fast that they will quickly fill even the largest pot with thick rhizomes which can
eventually split all but the most sturdy pots. Because of their size and the difficulty of
maintaining hedychiums in small pots, hedychiums are rarely offered in retail nurseries
and garden centers. Potted specimens will require lots of water (daily or even more
frequently). Place the pots near a seating area to enjoy the bright colors and sumptuous
scents.

Once frost has killed the foliage of your garden specimens, allow the foliage to collapse,
where it provides winter protection for the rhizomes. Neat freaks can remove the foliage,
but if you do so, add a thick layer of mulch to protect the rhizome. In climates where
hedychiums aren’t winter hardy, the rhizomes can be lifted after the first frost and stored
inside in a box of sawdust or peat moss to prevent desiccation.

Pests and Diseases

Luckily, hedychium are not bothered by many pests. Slugs and snails, which attack the
unfurling leaves, are the worst of them. In hot, dry climates caterpillars and grasshoppers
can be a problem, but then hedychium don’t flower well in these climates anyway. In a
greenhouse, mealy bugs and spider mites may become a problem, so keep an eye out for
them.

Propagation

Hedychiums are relatively easy to propagate via seed. Seed should be collected as the
seed pods open in the late fall. The seed should be sown immediately and grown indoors
where they may take several months to germinate. Surface sow the seed and cover with a
thin layer of perlite. Place the pots in a warm location and cover with clear plastic to keep
in moisture and heat. Seeds will germinate best at 70-75ºF. After germination, transplant
the seedlings into individual pots and keep them warm, moist, and well fed. Seedlings
will grow fast and can be transplanted into the garden during the next warm season.
Remember that hedychium seedlings will not be clones of the parent, and hybrid seed
will rarely be as nice as the parent.

We have found that hedychiums can grow for years without the need for dividing,
although they can make massive, wide-spreading clumps. If your clumps get too large,
they can be easily divided. To do so, you have a couple of options…one is to dig the
entire clump and then replace a small division. The other is to remove half or three-
quarters of the clump and simply leave the rest. Hedychiums grow outward by forming
large pointed growth buds on the end of the rhizome. Without a growth bud, you will not
have a new pseudostem produced, so be sure to leave 3-5 of these when you are dividing
your clump. If you’re going to dig the entire clump, wait until the plant has sprouted in
the spring. To avoid losing your plants to winter weather, do not divide after August. In
areas with winters that hit single digits F, the rhizomes are best planted 4-6” deep.

Hedychium greenii is known to produce plantlets in the dying inflorescences in the fall.
Once the plantlets form little aerial roots, harvest them and place them into pots. Keep the
pots protected from frost for their first winter. The plants can be transplanted into the
garden the following May.

Species and Hybrids

Hedychium coccineum (Scarlet Ginger) is a wonderful 5-7’ tall species of hardy ginger
lily renowned for its large head size and for being the first species to flower...often
starting in early July (NC). Each 18" tall flower spike is composed of small dark orange
flowers with a very dark orange center. All the florets open at the same time, creating
quite a show. Hedychium coccineum reblooms on new pseudostems from summer thru
early fall. This is one of the only hardy species with no floral fragrance, so if you see a H.
Coccineum sold as fragrant, someone either has a mislabeled plant or is lying to you.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium coccineum 'Disney' (Disney Scarlet Ginger) (aka: Hedychium Honduras

Form) is considered one of the best selections of the Himalayan Hedychium coccineum.
Hedychium 'Disney' has wonderfully glaucous foliage with a reddish cast to the
underside on a very tall 7' stem. At the top in late summer you will find brilliant, orange-
red, delightfully fragrant flowers. Hedychium 'Disney' stays very erect in part sun, unlike
some of the other gingers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium coccineum 'Tara' (Tara Scarlet Ginger) is a selection that performs equally as
well in the upper South as well as the Pacific Northwest. Hedychium 'Tara' is one of only
a few hedychiums to be awarded the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit
for outstanding garden value. Hedychium 'Tara' emerges in late spring with 6' stalks of
grey-green foliage that rocket skyward. In late summer, the vigorous clumps are topped
with lightly fragrant, 16" bottlebrush spikes of bright orange flowers. (Hardiness Zone
7b-10)

Hedychium coronarium (Butterfly Ginger) is a real attention-getter in late summer and

fall as the rich, honeysuckle-like fragrance pervades the evening air from 2" wide
butterfly-like white flowers. The 4’ tall stalks emerge from a thick, slowly growing
rhizome and grow through the spring and summer. In late summer, pine cone-like buds
form atop the stems. Soon the flowers emerge, a few each day, to perfume the air until
the first heavy frost.(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium densiflorum (Dense Ginger Lily) is from the temperate regions of the
Himalayas and makes a more compact clump that other hardy hedychium species. The 4’
tall stalks are topped in summer with densely packed orange-yellow flowers which,
unlike other gingers, open from the tip downwards. The flowers are deliciously scented.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium densiflorum 'Stephen' (Stephen Ginger Lily) is a delightful dwarf ginger lily
discovered in Nepal by the UK's Tony Schilling, who named his new find after his son.
Hedychium 'Stephen' is perfect for the small garden where space is a consideration. Not
only does 'Stephen' top out around 3-4', but the narrow foliage makes for a rather svelte
specimen. Hedychium 'Stephen' is topped with slender flower heads of fragrant,
butterscotch-yellow flowers each highlighted by contrasting orange anthers. For us,
Hedychium 'Stephen' starts flowering in late July and repeats until late September.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Hedychium ellipticum (Shaving Brush Ginger) hails from the eastern Himalayas and
northeast India. The 5-6’ tall clumps are topped with white flowers and red stamens,
which produce a lovely clove-like scent. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium flavescens (Yellow Ginger Lily) is a massive Indian species that can reach 8-
9’ in height. The very huge, hairy foliage, especially on the new growth, adorns the giant
stalks. In late fall, the plants are topped with wonderful clusters of creamy yellow
flowers. Hedychium flavescens is a later flowering species, so in areas that freeze prior to
November, you will want to keep this one indoors. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium forrestii (Forest’s Ginger Lily) is a unique but little-known ginger lily that
boasts large, glossy green, canna-like leaves on the massive 8' tall stalks. Beginning in
late summer, the top of each spike becomes a giant flower head, each with dozens of
white, narrow-petaled, hymenocallis-like flowers emitting a strong, delightfully sweet
fragrance. (Hardiness Zone 7b-9 at least)

Hedychium gardnerianum 'Compactum' (Compact Kahili Ginger Lily) is from Nepal and
is a very showy 4-5’ tall ginger that boasts giant flower heads of brilliant yellow, fragrant
flowers but the highlight is the dark orange stigmas that protrude from each flower and
provide a stunning contrast from September through November. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium gardnerianum 'Extendum' (Giant Kahili Ginger Lily) is 6-8’ giant topped,
starting in late August/early September (NC), with flower heads of light yellow flowers
with a very strong fragrance. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium gracile (Gracile Ginger Lily) is a rare, dwarf species from India that is topped
in very late summer with an inflorescence of tiny star-like white flowers with a
contrasting orange-red stigma...the perfect plant for the small garden. (Hardiness Zone 8-
10, possibly colder)

Hedychium greenii (Green’s Ginger Lily) is a wonderful 3-4’ tall ginger that is
considered the star of the genus. The dark green leaves have a red underside that give a
wonderful garden effect. The clumps are topped with small scarlet red flowers starting in
midsummer. Hedychium greenii is the only species that produces small plantlets where
the flowers fade. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Hedychium maximum (Giant Ginger Lily) is a plant that is very confused in the trade
since most plants under this name are Hedychium coronarium. We were fortunate to find
and bring back the real plant from our 2005 North Vietnam expedition. The 5-7’ tall
ginger is topped with large heads of fragrant yellow flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium spicatum (Spiked Ginger Lily, Kapur Kachari) is a 4’ tall clump, topped in
summer with narrow-petalled fragrant white flowers with yellow or orange markings at
the base. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium yunnanense (Yunnan Ginger Lily) is a 4’ tall species with narrow yellow
petals that starts flowering in July and reblooms again in late September (NC). (Hardiness
Zone 7b-10)

Hybrid Cultivars

Hedychium 'Anne Bishop' (Anne Bishop Ginger Lily) is 5-6’ tall stunning hybrid with
huge flower heads of apricot blooms with a strong sweet scent that starts for us in late
August. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium ‘Apple Court’ (Apple Court Ginger Lily) is one of our favorite Hedychium
coccineum hybrids. The massive 1’+ long flower heads of brilliant orange top the 5-6’
tall clump in mid-summer and again in early fall. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Betty Ho' (Betty Ho Ginger Lily) is a 6' to 7' tall hybrid developed at
Hawaii’s Lyons Arboretum. The sweet gardenia-fragranced flowers, which start in early
September, are light creamy yellow with orange stamens. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Carnival' (Carnival Ginger Lily) is one of our favorite ginger lily hybrids.
This 4' tall and slow-multiplying selection with brightly red-marked stalks begins
flowering for us in late summer and early fall. The huge 14" heads of fragrant, bright
butterscotch-yellow flowers put on a show that lasts for several weeks. (Hardiness Zone
7b-10)

Hedychium 'CP Raffill' (CP Raffill Ginger Lily) (aka: Hedychium x raffillii) is a 1941
Award of Garden Merit (AGM) winner and is touted as one of the finest ginger lilies ever
hybridized. For us, this cross (reportedly Hedychium coccineum x Hedychium
gardnerianum, but assumed now to be straight Hedychium coccineum) is the earliest
ginger to flower, often starting in early to mid-July. Hybridized by C.P. Raffill, former
assistant curator at Kew Gardens, the 5-6' tall sturdy clumps are topped with giant 18"
flower heads of fragrant, brilliant orange flowers. Clumps have as many as 50 flower
spikes open at once. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Daniel Weeks' (Daniel Weeks Ginger Lily) is a 1992 Gainesville Tree Farm
introduction (probably Hedychium flavescens x gardnerianum) and is one of the longest-
flowering of the ginger lilies, starting here in late July or early August, and continuing
until frost. The 4'+ tall stalks are topped with scrumptious, golden-yellow flowers with a
dark gold throat. In early evening, the air is perfumed with their strong honeysuckle-like
fragrance. This rapid grower will make a 3-4' wide clump of arching canes in only a
couple of seasons. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Dave Case' (Dave Case Ginger Lily) is 6' - 7' tall Tom Wood hybrid with a
ten inch floral spike of many pure orange, fragrantly-scented flowers, starting in early
September (NC). (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Dr. Moy' (Dr. Moy Ginger Lily) is the first variegated foliage winter hardy
ginger…a true breakthrough. From retired plant breeder Dr. Ying Doon Moy of the San
Antonio Botanical Garden developed this hybrid (probably Hedychium flavum x
coccineum) with white paint-like speckles covering the otherwise green foliage. In
September, the 4’ tall clumps are topped with fragrant, peachy-orange flowers with a
darker orange throat. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Elizabeth' (Elizabeth Ginger Lily) is the tallest and most imposing ginger lily
we grow, both for size and for flower. Starting in late July, the towering 9' tall stalks of
this Tom Wood Hedychium coccineum hybrid are topped with clusters of brilliant
reddish-orange flowers. In late afternoon, the exquisite honeysuckle-like fragrance wafts
through the garden from its lofty perch. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium ‘Fiesta’ (Fiesta Flaming Torch Ginger) is a Hedychium coccineum hybrid

that makes a 6’ tall clump topped, starting in August, with spikes of bright scarlet orange
flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Flaming Torch' (Flaming Torch Ginger Lily) is a Hedychium coccineum

hybrid that forms a huge mass of 6-7' tall stalks, each topped with a 1' long head of bright
orange flowers in mid-July (NC). Following flowering, a new set of stems emerge, which
flower in September and October. The clump looks like a series of giant torches.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Four Way' (Four Way Ginger Lily) is a Tom Wood Hybrid with a nice
compact size…to only 48" tall. In early September, the clumps are topped until frost with
large fragrant flowers of a very light peachy pink with a darker orange throat. The lower
two petals (staminodes actually) are completely split from each other, hence the name
"four way". (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Gold Flame' (Gold Flame Ginger Lily) is a 4’ tall vigorous Tom Wood
hybrid with heads of fragrant golden flowers with golden orange throats. Hedychium
'Gold Flame' will flower consistently from late July until frost. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Golden Butterfly' (Golden Butterfly Ginger Lily) blooms from early August
until frost. This hybrid from Florida's John Banta, combines the best of Hedychium
gardnerianum and Hedychium flavescens. The 6' tall stalks are topped in late summer
with very fragrant orange yellow flowers with bright red stamens. (Hardiness Zone 7b-
10)

Hedychium 'Kahili Ann' (Kahili Ann Ginger Lily) is a 6-7’ tall hybrid developed at
Hawaii’s Lyons Arboretum. The clump is topped with flower spikes of pastel orange-
pink with darker coral orange centers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Kai Yang' (Kai Yang Ginger Lily) is a vigorous hybrid that is one of the
earliest to flower for us...usually in late July. From then until frost, the 4' clumps are
topped with pure white flowers with a bright yellow lip and a peachy-colored stigma. The
fragrance is a delightful honeysuckle scent...especially strong in the evening. (Hardiness
Zone 7-10)

Hedychium 'Kin Ogi' (Kin Ogi Ginger Lily) is one of our favorites. The strong 6' tall
stalks are topped in July (NC) with stunning 1' tall flowers heads of large, butterscotch-
orange, fragrant flowers. The flower color is quite unique among the gingers we grow.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Hedychium 'Kinkaku' (Kinkaku Ginger Lily) is a 6’ tall clump topped, starting in

midsummer, with floral cones of peachy salmon flowers with a darker orange lip. The
fragrance from the flowers is strongest in late afternoon. This is probably a Hedychium
coccineum x Hedychium coronarium hybrid. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Lemon Beauty' (Lemon Beauty Ginger Lily) forms a clump of 4-5' tall stalks,
topped in early September (NC) with a tremendous floral show of very fragrant soft
yellow flowers with a dramatically contrasting orange throat and stamens. (Hardiness
Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Lemon Sherbet' (Lemon Sherbet Ginger Lily) is 6' - 8' tall Tom Wood hybrid
that produces 12” long spikes of large ruffled yellow flowers with showy stamens.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Luna Moth' (Luna Moth Ginger Lily) is a 4’ tall Tom Wood hybrid with
large pure white flowers that look like moths. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Moy Giant' (Moy Giant Ginger Lily) is from Dr. Moy's breeding efforts at
the San Antonio Botanical Garden (probably Hedychium gardnerianum x coronarium).
The 7' tall, lushly foliaged clumps are topped starting in August (NC) with large,
lusciously fragrant trusses of very light yellow flowers, each with a contrasting dark
yellow eye. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Mutant' (Mutant Ginger Lily) is a cute Tom Wood hybrid that makes a 5' tall
clump topped in late summer with clusters of narrow light yellow flowers with dark
yellow throats, a cute little fused harelip, and emanates the unmistakable aroma of
honeysuckle. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Palani' (Palani Ginger Lily) is an extremely vigorous 8’ tall selection with
orange-red very fragrant flowers, that starts flowering for us in July. (Hardiness Zone 7b-
10)

Hedychium 'Peach Delight' (Peach Delight Ginger Lily) is a Hedychium coccineum x

coronarium hybrid with 6-7' tall stalks that are topped with peachy-orange flowers with a
dark orange throat (suffused with yellow) from early August through frost. The fabulous
honeysuckle-like fragrance is superb. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)
Hedychium 'Pink Flame' (Pink Flame Ginger Lily) is a creation from master hedychium
breeder, Tom Wood. This slowly spreading compact ginger is adorned in late August and
into fall with clusters of extremely fragrant peachy flowers (RHS 27D) with a wide dark
orange throat (RHS 25A). (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Pink Princess' (Pink Princess Ginger Lily) grows to 5’ tall, and is topped
with spikes of fragrant pink flowers, starting in early September (NC). (Hardiness Zone
7b-10)

Hedychium 'Pink Sparks' (Pink Sparks Ginger Lily) is a 4-5’ tall selection with new
purple growth. The clumps are topped with small pink blooms with long pink stamens.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Pradhanii' (Pradhanii Ginger Lily) is an old hybrid from India that is still
one of the most spectacular ginger clumps in our garden. A mature clump of this vigorous
grower is composed of dozens of 7' tall stalks, each topped with large spikes of light
peach-colored flowers from August (NC) until frost. The throat of each flower is peach-
colored, changing to yellow near the end of the petals and has a light honeysuckle
fragrance. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tac Moto' (Ginger Lily) from Hawaii’s Mr. Moto has pure golden yellow
fragrant flowers with a darker yellow throat and stamen. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

The following Tai series are creations from plant breeder Doyle Smittle, retired
from the University of Georgia.

Hedychium 'Tai Alpha' (Tai Alpha Ginger Lily) is one of the shorter and earliest-
flowering of the Tai hybrids. Each 6'+ clump begins flowering in early July with 10"
inflorescences of large, fragrant, light yellow flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Hedychium 'Tai Conch Pink' (Tai Conch Pink Ginger Lily) is an extremely vigorous,
fast-growing, 5-6’ tall clump. Starting in August (NC), the clumps are topped with 6"
long, lightly fragrant flower heads of "conch pink." The pink is actually a salmon-peach
(RHS 23D), highlighted by a darker peachy throat. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Emperor' (Tai Emperor Ginger Lily) is a 5-6’ tall selection, topped with
spikes of light pink flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Empress' (Tai Empress Ginger Lily) is a 5' tall selection, topped, starting
in early summer, with numerous 6" flower heads of lightly fragrant, salmon-pink flowers
(RHS 13C), each with a darker orange eye. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Golden Goddess' (Tai Golden Goddess Ginger Lily) is a unique-colored
marvelous hybrid that has really stood out in our garden. The 6' tall stalks are topped in
late summer with 12-14" heads of sweetly fragrant, golden-orange flowers (RHS 23B).
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Hedychium 'Tai Mammoth' (Tai Mammoth Ginger Lily) is a 6' tall ginger that produces
huge, 15" tall flower heads bearing large, 3.5", strongly scented flowers. Each butterfly-
shaped flower is a creamy light yellow with a darker central pattern. Hedychium 'Tai
Mammoth' starts blooming in very early summer and continues into fall. (Hardiness Zone
7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Monarch' (Tai Monarch Ginger Lily) is a 50" tall clump, topped from
midsummer until fall with huge 12"+ flower heads. Each flower head is composed of
100+ light yellow (RHS 4D) flowers with the intoxicatingly strong fragrance of
honeysuckle. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Pink Princess' (Tai Pink Princess Ginger Lily) comes the closest to pink
flowers of any ginger we have grown. The 5-6' stalks are topped with 8" inflorescences of
salmon-pink (RHS 37D) flowers, starting in late summer and continuing until frost.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Hedychium 'Tai Pink Profusion' (Tai Pink Profusion Ginger Lily) is a Hedychium
coccineum hybrid producing a 6' tall clump topped with compact, 6-8" tall
inflorescences. Each inflorescence is virtually a profusion of peachy-pink flowers in late
summer. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Savannah' (Tai Savannah Ginger Lily) is a hybrid. The 5' tall stems,
adorned with huge green leaves are topped, starting in midsummer, with 12" tall
inflorescences. Each flower head is home to 100+ very fragrant, creamy-white flowers
with a darker yellow central pattern and contrasting yellow-orange stamens. (Hardiness
Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Tai Sunlight' (Tai Sunlight Ginger Lily) is a 5' tall hybrid that begins
flowering in mid-July and continues until frost with 10" flower heads of fragrant, light
yellow flowers atop the 5' tall stalks. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10 at least)

Hedychium 'Tangerine' (Tangerine Ginger Lily) is an extremely vigorous 8’ tall selection

with fragrant peachy-pink flowers, that starts flowering in July and continues until fall.
(Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Hedychium 'Vanilla Ice' (Vanilla Ice Ginger Lily) is a selection of Hedychium 'Dr. Moy'
from NC's Mark and Louisa Messenbrink that was introduced in limited numbers around
the year 2000. Hedychium 'Vanilla Ice' has much more white flecking than its parent,
which reduces it in both size and vigor...a good thing for smaller gardens. The rare,
reverted, larger-growing, less-variegated shoots should be promptly removed. In our
trials, it rarely exceeds 3' in height and is topped in late summer with deliciously fragrant
peachy-pink flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)
Conclusion

I hope we’ve been able to convey the remarkable possibilities that await by growing
hedychiums in your garden. Between the intoxicating fragrance, tropical foliage, and
garden presence, it’s hard to imagine a sunny warm temperate garden without hardy
gingers.

References

Branney, T.M.E. (2005), Hardy Gingers including Hedychium, Roscoea, and Zingiber,
Timber Press, Portland Oregon

Chapman, T.S., (1994), Ornamental Gingers – A Preliminary Guide to Selection and

Cultivation

Constantine, D., (2008), Hedychium, an annotated list of the species and cultivars grown
in the UK, http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/hedychium_home.htm

Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden

Gardening with Hardy Tropicals - http://www.plantdelights.com/Tony/tropicals.html
Hardiness Zones - http://www.plantdelights.com/More/usda_map.html
Website - http://www.plantdelights.com/

Ravindran, P.N., et. al., (2007), Botany and Crop Improvement of Turmeric, in Turmeric:
the genus Curcuma, 1st Edition, CRC Press

Spencer-Mills, L. & K. (1996), Glorious Hedychium, The Garden magazine, December

1996, pp. 754-759

Wood, T. (1999), Ginger Lilies, The American Gardener magazine, November/December

issue, pp. 40-45.