Ginger Lily are hardy perennials noted for their frequently fragrant bold blossoms and tall erect habit. Their tropical features make them easy to maintain. Narrow footing means they can be planted close together, and their height gives structure to borders. Ginger Lily flourish in sunny positions with good soil.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Hedychium is a genus of flowering plants in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, native to lightly wooded habitats in Asia. There are approximately 70-80 known species, native to India, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar. Some species have become widely naturalized in other lands, and considered invasive in some places.
In 2000, Tom Wood et al. published the first phylogeny of the genus Hedychium represented by 29 taxa.
The genus name Hedychium is derived from two ancient Greek words, hedys meaning “sweet” and chios meaning “snow”. This refers to the fragrant white flower of the type species H. coronarium. Common names include garland flower, ginger lily, and kahili ginger.
Members of the genus Hedychium are rhizomatous perennials, commonly growing 120–180 cm (47–71 in) tall. Some species are cultivated for their exotic foliage and fragrant spikes of flowers in shades of white, yellow and orange. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which ‘Tara’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Though reasonably hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F), it requires a sheltered position and a deep mulch in winter.
Hedychium has multiple modes of reproduction: sexual, via rhizomes and via bulbils. Some species of Hedychium are reported to exhibit facultative vivipary.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Plant ginger lily in a location that receives no more than four hours of direct sunlight per day. A location with partial sun, morning sunlight, or bright, dappled light will also work. Too much direct sun can cause the plant’s leaves to curl.
Temperature and Humidity
Ginger lily grows best in warm, humid tropical or subtropical regions, and the plant can live outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11. In northern climates, ginger lily can be grown outdoors as a container plant during the summer months. Stems will die back with the first frost. Dig up the rhizomes in the fall and store them indoors to plant the following spring.
Watering
Water consistently to keep the soil evenly moist. Ginger lily is not a drought-tolerant plant, so you might need to water daily during extended periods of hot weather with little to no rainfall.
Soil
Choose a planting location with moist, well-drained soil—you don’t want to overwater the flower, as this can lead to root rot. If you have a pond, consider planting there, as this plant often grows well near still water. Add plenty of compost to the soil a few weeks before planting to boost organic matter, which holds in moisture and provides nutrients.
Fertilizing
Feed your ginger lily with a balanced liquid plant fertilizer once per month during the growing season. Fertilize the day after a good watering to avoid burning the plant’s roots. Stop watering when the plant dies back in the fall, then begin fertilizing again when new growth appears in spring.
Pruning
Pinch off faded flowers in late summer to encourage more blooms. Foliage doesn’t need to be pruned during the growing season, but it will die back with late fall and winter frosts. Leave the dead foliage in place to insulate the rhizomes during winter, then remove the old leaves in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
Propagation
Ginger lily is easy to propagate by dividing mature plants. In fact, you’ll want to divide plants every three to four years as they become overcrowded. Be aware that some types of ginger lily are patented hybrids or cultivars, which are illegal to propagate.
It’s best to propagate ginger lily in the spring when the plant is just sprouting new growth. Before you begin, you’ll need a shovel, a trowel, a sharp knife, organic compost, and a water source. Here’s how to propagate ginger lily.
- Prepare the area where you’d like to plant your new ginger lily by clearing away debris, digging down several inches into the soil, and working in organic compost.
- Dig around the mature ginger lily plant to make a trench surrounding the roots, then insert the shovel underneath the root ball and lift up.
- Remove excess soil from the root ball and look for clumps of rhizomes with leaf shoots. Use the knife to cut rhizomes into pieces about eight inches long.
- In the prepared bed, use the trowel to dig a small hole the size and depth of the rhizome. Plant rhizomes two to three feet apart with their leaf shoots facing up.
- Water the new plantings immediately, then water daily for the first few weeks after dividing.
Overwintering
In regions colder than USDA hardiness zone 8, you’ll need to dig up ginger lily rhizomes and overwinter them indoors after frost has killed off the foliage. Store the rhizomes in paper bags in a cool, dry place that won’t drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you grew the plant in a container, you can bring the entire container into a shed, garage, or greenhouse to protect it for the winter, then replant the rhizomes in the spring.
How to Get to Bloom
A healthy ginger lily should bloom as early as midsummer in warmer regions and in late summer in cooler hardiness zones, then continue flowering until the first frost. Deadhead faded flowers regularly to encourage more vigorous blooms.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Ginger lily can be affected by common plant pests like spider mites, scale, and aphids. Bacterial wilt can affect ginger lily, infecting the rhizome and causing leaves to turn yellow and wilt. Root rot caused by overly wet conditions can also affect the plant.
Common Problems With Ginger Lily
Ginger lily is generally a problem-free plant, but you’ll want to watch out for these common problems.
Curling Leaves
Curling leaves indicate that your ginger lily is receiving too much sun. Prevent this by choosing a location that receives direct sun only in the morning or a location with partial shade or dappled shade.
Leaves Turning Brown
Brown edges on a ginger lily can indicate that the plant isn’t receiving enough water. Water the plant more often and consider mulching outdoor plants to prevent the soil from drying out in hot weather.
Drooping Leaves
A bacterial wilt infection can cause ginger lily leaves to yellow and droop. Dig up, bag, and dispose of infected rhizomes and soil, then disinfect gardening tools to keep from spreading the bacteria. Avoid planting similar plants in that area for at least 18 months. Prevent bacterial wilt by planting disease-free seed rhizomes from a reputable source.
