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How to Grow Hedychium — Ginger Lily

Hedychium coronarium
Beautiful white garland-lily or white ginger lily flowers, perennial plant, selective focus

Hedychium–commonly called ginger lily–is a tropical bulbous perennial that bears showy, fragrant and tubular clusters and spikes white, yellow, or orange-red flowers in spring and summer.

Hedychium flowers are tubular and almost trumpet shape with two lips and large bracts, borne in spike-like racemes. The flowers appear on reed-like stems above lance-shaped leaves. Some species can grow to 15 feet (5m) tall and 6 feet (2m) wide.

Hedychiums are most effective when planted in groups or in a mixed or herbaceous border. Where not hardy, they can be grown as houseplants and places outdoors in summer.

Hedychim is a genus of about 40 species of rhizomatous perennials from moist, wooded areas of Asia.

Get to Know Hedychium

  • Plant type: Rhizomatous perennial
  • Growing zones and range: Zones 8-11
  • Hardiness: Half-hardy
  • Height and width: 3 to 15 feet (1-5m) tall and 24 inches to 6 feet wide, depending on the variey
  • Foliage: Lance-shaped, mid-green leaves
  • Flowers: Fragrant, tubular orange or yellow flowers in desne terminal, cylindrical racemes to 20 inches (50cm) long
  • Bloom time: Summer to autumn
  • Uses: Beds, borders; houseplant
  • Common name: Ginger lily, garland lily
  • Botanical name: Hedychium
  • Family name: Zingiberaceae
  • Origin: Wooded areas of Asia
Garland lily, Hedychium coronarium
Garland lily, Hedychium coronarium

Where to Plant Hedychium

  • Light outdoors: Plant Hedychium in full sun.
  • Light indoors: Grow Hedychium in bright indirect light.
  • Soil outdoors: Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil.
  • Soil indoors:Plant in a soil-based potting mix.

When to Plant Hedychium

  • Plant Hedychium rhizomes in spring.

Planting and Spacing Hedychium

  • Space Hedychium 24 inches to 6 feet wide depending on the variety.

How to Water and Feed Hedychium

  • Water Hedychium freely during the growing season. In winter, keep the soil just moist.
  • Feed Hedychium with a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly.

Hedychium Care

  • Shelter Hedychium from wind.

Growing Hedychium as a Houseplant

  • Several species can be grown as houseplants: Hedychium coronarium, garland flower, H. flavescens, yellow ginger, H. gardneranum, Kahili ginger.
  • Hedychium prefers warm temperature, bright light, and average to high humidity.
  • Grow Hedychium in an extra-rich, soilless medium and keep it constantly moist.
  • Fertilize Heychium monthly

Hedychium Pests and Diseases

  • Hedychium can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs, and scale insects.
  • Root rot and leaf spot can occur.

Hedychium Propagation

  • Propagate Hedychium by dividing rhizomes.

Hedychium Varieties to Grow

  • Hedychium coronarium, garland flower, white ginger. Leaves to 2 feet long and 5 inches wide; butterfly-like flowers are pure white and bloom in rounded blusters; outdoors plant can grow to 10 feet tall..
  • H. flavescens, yellow ginger. Lance-shaped leaves to 18 inches long; rounded clusters of 4-inch flwoers are yellow with a dark base;
  • H. gardnerianum, Kahili ginger. Leaves to 18 inches long; flwoer spikes contain yellow flowers with red stamens; outdoors plant can grow to 7 feet tall.

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