HEDYCHIUM. Ginger lily. Asia, Madagascar. Ornamental relatives of the commercial ginger, with thick, branched rhizomes, erect stems and very large, narrowly oval leaves arranged in opposing rows. They are primarily summer and fall blooming, bearing spikes of brightly colored, often deliciously fragrant blossoms at the shoot tips. The flowers are irregular in form, generally with one particularly enlarged, often beautifully marked segment giving them the appearance of orchids. Sun or light shade, in as warm a spot as possible, fertile soil, regular watering. The tops are killed by frost, but well-mulched plants will resprout after bouts of 25oF or less, in some cases considerably less.
coccineum. This is the tallest of our selections, probably up to 10’ in the ground. It has exceptionally narrow leaves and long, narrow clusters of red-orange blossoms.
coronarium. White ginger lily. One of the best known of the group, this species has broad, lush leaves and intensely fragrant white flowers with yellow markings.
flavum. This plant shows some characteristics of both H. flavum and H. flavescens. It is a robust plant, probably reaching at least 8’ in the ground, and has large, broad leaves. The deliciously fragrant, pale yellow blossoms are often borne late in the season, with the show continuing through winter.
gardnerianum. Of moderate growth, around 5’ when mature in this selection. The leaves are quite broad and tropical-looking. For several months each year it displays spikes 1’ or more long of large, fragrant blossoms, colored bright yellow with red pistils. Exceptionally cold hardy, resprouting after freezes of 15oF or less.
greenei. One of the smaller growing species, usually 5’ high or less. It has polished leaves, reddish purple on the undersides, and flowers for several months of summer and fall, bearing brilliant orange blossoms, marked with yellow, in short spikes. One of the hardier species (plants in containers at the nursery have resprouted after bouts of 20o).
‘Kin Kaku’. A beautiful hybrid, received from Steve Brigham. It has rather narrow leaves and soft peach flowers.