Why the Ginger Lily has that name is a mystery. It’s not related to the spice and doesn’t have its taste or fragrance. Still, this delightful flower – whose more formal name is Hedychium – deserves all the attention it gets.
A native of the Himalayas, the Ginger Lily has grown successfully in many other parts of the world. It can be found from the hills of Hawaii to a neighbor’s garden in Florida. One type, the Hedychium coronarium, is the national flower of Cuba. It is also common in Brazil.
While not so hardy as their cousins, the Asiatics can be grown in zones 7-11 without difficulty. Colder climates are possible, but the lower the number, the less likely you will succeed with this flowering plant that has adapted to tropical climates.
The flowers resemble a hyacinth and come in various delicate pastel shades and white. Orange and yellow are popular varieties, and there are even some deeper shades.
The Hedychium greenii, for example, sports orange-scarlet petals; the Hedychium gardnerianum bloom is a rich yellow. The Hedychium Yunnanese from the Yunnan province in China sports white blossoms with a deep yellow and red throat.
They’re unlike their Asian cousins in another way. They offer a rich, spicy fragrance that adds a delightful aroma to the garden or home. Inside, they’re best grown in a hothouse, but it is possible to develop a well-cared for Ginger Lily in a pot inside the house.
Ginger Lilies Enjoy Lots Of Sunshine
In either case, they will need lots of sunshine, like most lilies. Some species of the genus will tolerate partial shade, but the more hours of sun, the better for this flowering plant. If you’re seeking some that lean more toward shade tolerance, try the Curcuma petiolata or Curcuma elata.
Look into a Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) for something on the tall side. These monsters get up to 8” feet high, but they require mild winters to produce their large pink and white flowers.
For those who prefer a shorter plant, which is generally easier to care for, try the Mauve Dancing Ladies (Globba winitii). They reach only about two feet.
Whichever you choose, your Ginger Lily will also need moist, well-draining soil but little else. A bit of fertilizer won’t harm, but it’s unnecessary if some good-quality earth is prepared appropriately.
Like most lily species, the leaves and stalk will die off during the cold season if the temperature dips below tropical temperatures. Most will come back year after year, provided they’re not subject to a frost heave that breaks the bulb.
Once the foliage dies, trim back the dead leaves and stalk at ground level. Take care not to do it too early.
Any green portion of the remaining leaf is still making sugar stored in the bulb. It is that nutrient that helps the bulb overwinter. A good mulch laid over the area around the stalk will help minimize frost damage.
7319 by NA