Fragrant Ginger Lily

[Susie Snowdrop]

Hedychium gardnerianum

I couldn't resist the picture and the fact that it's fragrant but, having got home, it looks as though it isn't frost hardy at all

Has anybody every grown these and, if so, what are they like and do they successfully overwinter?

S x

[Deleted]

I've never grown them, SS, but a friend has them; he grows them in a pot and stores them indoors for the winter, so I think they must be very tender, since other tender perennials like Dahlias and Cannas are generally left in the ground here in Dublin. But they are absolutely gorgeous, and I'd have thought well worth the trouble ... cheers ...

[Tig]

Hi Susie - I've bought hedychium aurantiacum (red ginger) - on the pack it says 'exotic & tropical' so I assumed it wasn't hardy through the winter, although on the instructions it reads 'flowering for several years in flower beds and borders, also in tubs and pots on terrace or balcony'


It goes on to say that it needs warm temperatures for starting to grow, cutting flowers will stimulate more flowering, and cover plants with mulch during the winter months.

Decisions, decisions x Tig

[Susie Snowdrop]

Thanks CC, I feel much more confident about them now. I'll definately bring them indoors to protect them over winter as it gets freezing here sometimes!

S x

[beanie]

Mine took a couple of years to really take off, last year I put them into a sheltered border and left them there. I was short of space in the greenhouse, here's hoping they survive

[andy]

I have H. Greenii and H. gardnerianum but keep them both in the conservatory over winter.

However, this says H. gardnerianum can be left in the border outside all year

www.gardengingers.co.uk/hedychium_care.htm

Hope this helps

[Susie Snowdrop]

Thanks Andy, excellent site!

Do they smell of ginger then?

S x

[andy]

The leaves are aromatic (take a small bit, crush it and smell)...the flowers are sweet smelling

[Susie Snowdrop]

Thanks Andy, I'm really looking forward to seeing them!

S x

[Chuckles]

I bought one last year, it's been in the unheated GH all winter and has about 10" of growth but it's not flowered yet. I'll have a root in the shed later and find the packaging and let you know which one I've got

[Susie Snowdrop]

Thanks for that Chuckles. I think I'll get mine potted up and keep it under glass!

S x

[Chuckles]

Yep mines the same one as you have Susie. I bought it last year as an unplanted rhizome, it was huge and I chopped it in half, greedy me wanted two for the price of one anyhow I potted them both up and not really knowing how to keep them I just bunged them in the GH and forgot about them. One produced a shoot and as I said is now about 10" tall and has about 7/8 leaves on it, the other rotted I'm afraid The surviving one has been in the GH all winter and I hope it flowers this year. I was drawn to buy it for the fragrance and the flower.