Hedychium

( hed - EE - kee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Also known as Ginger Lily, Garland Flower, Hardy Ginger, or Kahili Ginger, this genus includes species of flowering perennial plants that need light shade and ample amounts of water to perform well in the garden. Leaves are large and green and flowers are fragrant and colorful, blooming on packed spikes. Although frost can kill these flowers back, they will regrow the next springtime when temperatures warm. Flowers bloom from late summer through early fall. These plants are native to Asia, India, and the Himalayas. Use these tropicals at the back of planting beds, along walkways, in mixed beds, near pools, or in containers.

Hedychium Species and Varietals

The genus Hedychium is a member of the plant family Zingiberaceae and includes between 70 and 80 species. The genus name is derived from the ancient Greek words hedys (meaning sweet) and chios (meaning snow). Ginger Lily grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7b-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9, 14-17, 19-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Hedychium coccineum (Red Ginger Lily, Scarlet Ginger Lily, Orange Gingerlily, Orange Bottlebrush Ginger)
Grows to reach 6-9 feet tall when in bloom and produces long, strappy leaves. Flowers are scarlet-orange and have prominent red stamens. Blossom spikes reach 10 inches long. Cold-hardy variety 'Tara' has flowers that are tangerine-orange in color. This species is native to southern China, the Himalayas, India, and Indochina and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7b-10b. It is considered invasive in La Réunion.

Hedychium coronarium (White Ginger, Butterfly Lily, Garland Flower, White Garland-Lily)
Grows 3-7 feet tall with narrow leaves that reach 2 feet long. Flowers are white and heavily fragrant; they make great cut flowers for fresh arrangements. It has naturalized itself in Hawai'i, where its flowers are used in leis. This species is considered invasive in Hawaii, Brazil, South Africa, New Caledonia, and regions of the southeastern United States.

Hedychium densiflorum (Dense Ginger Lily, Dwarf Orange Ginger Lily, Hardy Ginger)
This plant grows to reach between 4 and 9 feet tall and produces orange-yellow flowers that are borne on spikes. Forms clumps relatively quickly, and bloom time is between late summer and early fall. Leaves are green and up to 14 inches long. This species is considered invasive in New Zealand.

Hedychium flavascens (Yellow Ginger, Cream Garland-Lily, Yellow Butterfly Ginger, Cream Ginger)
This plant reaches 6 feet tall or more with 2-foot long leaves. Flowers are a creamy yellow and very fragrant and have prominent green bracts. This species is considered an invasive weed in some areas of the world, such as New Zealand.

Hedychium flavum (Yellow Butterfly Ginger, Yellow Ginger Lily, Lemon Ginger Lily, Nardo Ginger Lily)
This species grows to reach 5 feet tall at maturity when in bloom, and produces yellow to orange flowers with green bracts. Foliage is green and herbaceous. Very fragrant flowers smell similar to those of Honeysuckle shrubs and vines. This species is highly invasive in Hawai'i and New Zealand.

Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger, Kahila Garland-Lily, Ginger Lily)
This plant reaches 8 feet tall and has leaves 1.5 feet long. Flowers are yellow and have prominent red stamens, appearing on spikes 1.5 feet long. Considered invasive on the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, the Azores, South Africa, and parts of Australia.

Hedychium greenii (Red Butterfly Ginger, Red Ginger, Scarlet Ginger, Fire Ginger, Red Leaf Ginger Lily)
This rare species grows to reach about 5 feet tall and leaves can reach up to 8-10 inches long. Flowers are orange-red and are held on spikes 5 inches long. These plants form clumps over time. This species is considered to be hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. It is considered invasive in Hawai'i.

Hedychium spicatum (Spiked Ginger Lily, Perfume Ginger, Kapur Kachri, Kapoor Kachri, Van Haldi, Shati, Sandharlika, Spiked Garland Flower)
This species is native to China, the Himalayas, Myanmar, Thailand, and Ethiopia. These are small perennials that reach up to 3 feet 3 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Leaves are green and flowers are orange and white. This species is considered invasive in Hawai'i, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Caring for Hedychium

Hedychium plants can be grown from seed or purchased as specimens from a reputable nursery. They prefer to be planted in a space in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade, and that is protected from drying winds, cool temperatures, and from sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Ideally, they should receive between 4 and 6 hours of sun each day for best flowering. They prefer soils that are fertile, well-draining, and that have a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. They can handle loam, sand, chalky, or clay soils as long as they have a high organic matter content. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch to the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water newly planted Hedychium lilies regularly to help them develop a strong root system. At maturity, they prefer to get regular waterings as well; as a general rule of thumb, irrigate whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune to remove spent flower spikes (if not harvesting plants for seed), and trim off old, dried, or yellowing foliage once the blooming season is over in autumn. These plants can spread via underground rhizomes, and have the potential to form large clumps. They can be divided every few years for health. For instructions on how to divide Hedychium lilies, see the Propagation section below.

Growing Hedychium in Containers
These hardy lilies can be grown either in the ground or in containers. In areas where winter temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, growing them in containers allows them to be brought indoors during the coolest months of the year. Ensure that the container used to grow Hedychium has adequate drainage holes at the bottom before planting. Fill the container with well-draining potting substrate that is rich in nutrients, and has some organic matter added. Plant rhizomes an inch or two under the soil, and cover with more substrate. Apply an inch of mulch to the soil after planting. Prune to remove spent flower spikes (if not harvesting plants for seed), and trim off old, dried, or yellowing foliage once the blooming season is over in autumn. When grown in containers, these plants will need to be divided every few years for best health. For instructions on how to divide Hedychium lilies, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Hedychium can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Kahili Ginger plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Hedychium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Hedychium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Hedychium flowers fade to reveal bright reddish-orange seed pods which hold multiple seeds.

Hedychium seeds.

Problems and Pests

Certain Hedychium species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Hedychium plants can suffer from issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: