Ginger Lilies (Hedychium spp.) are also called Hardy Ginger, but I choose not to use that common name for them because they are really not all THAT hardy, and there are other plants that go by that name. Also, in using the word LILY, I hope to allude to a flower feature. The wide range of flower structures and colours is displayed all over this page, but their leaves are nice too. All Hedychiums hail from Tropical Asia and the Himalayas. It's the Himalayan species that are the more hardy, and I'll focus more on those for the benefit of the bulk of our readers, who live outside of tropical climates.
People often wonder why other gardeners like to choose plants that are not fully hardy in their area, thus resulting in all kinds of work. Consider covering and uncovering plants each fall and spring, not to mention the stress surrounding cold snaps. These die-hard gardeners will be quick to point out the merits of the plants in question. For example, the Ginger Lily has large, tropical-look leaves and amazing flowers in a fireworks show of colours and rich fragrances. For these gardeners the work surrounding their tender plants becomes a labour of love.
Locally, we are seeing gardeners becoming more and more wrapped up in collecting plants that require wrapping up. Because we are in USDA zone 9, rarely receiving temperatures low enough to put frost on our windsheilds, a little bit of covering up of plants steps our gardens up to the next level, heretofore named "tropical paradise".
For gardeners in zone 7, Ginger Lilies offer an easily accessible chance to try your hand at raising a bit of the tropics in your garden.
What Ginger Lilies are not
Ginger Lilies are not the commercial source of ginger. That role is served by a large genus of plants called Zingiber. Ginger Lilies should also not to be confused with Wild Ginger (Asarum spp.), which is a very hardy group of plants hailing from temperate areas such as northern Japan and Ontario. Roscoea spp. are also often called Hardy Ginger. These lovely plants have intricate orchid-like blooms and spear-shaped leaves.
Ginger Lily Species
Hedychium coccineum
One of the hardiest of the ginger lilies, carries bright orange fragrant hyacinth-like flowers on arching leafy stems. Very Showy! Seen to be fully hardy in Zone 9, but winter protection is an option for colder climates.
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