Hedychium (ginger lily) are wonderful pass-along perennial plants that are finally available in many new varieties and species. All of the ginger lilies we offer have proven to be reliably hardy in our Zone 7b garden (0 degrees F in winter). Although they are commonly called ginger lilies, they are not a true lily (genus Lilium), but instead are related to true ginger. Hedychium plants are prized for their summer and early fall floral shows atop bold-foliaged stalks. The inflorescences are quite exotic looking, resembling clusters of small orchid blooms. Many of the ginger lily selections (especially Hedychium coronarium) are valued for their wonderful flower fragrance...a sweet honeysuckle scent that is a favorite of hummingbirds!
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Hedychium plants prefer bright to part sun in rich, moist but well-drained garden soils...preferable on slopes. North of Zone 8, do not plant Hedychium plants after late August for best winter survivability. If your hedychiums are happy, they will quickly form a large clump, which can easily be divided and shared with friends. When you are ready to buy hedychiums, we hope you will check out our extensive offering of ginger lilies for sale.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
Hedychium 'Carnival' has been one of our favorite ginger lily hybrids. This 4' tall and slow-multiplying selection with brightly red-marked stalks begins flowering for us in late summer and early fall. The huge 14" heads of fragrant, bright butterscotch-yellow flowers put on a show that lasts for several weeks...outstanding! Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
Hedychium coronarium is a real attention-getter in late summer and fall as the rich, honeysuckle-like fragrance pervades the evening air from the 2", butterfly-like white flowers. The butterfly ginger stalks emerge from a thick, slowly growing rhizome and grow through the spring and summer. In late summer, the pinecone-like buds form atop the stems. Soon the flowers emerge, a few each day, to perfume the air until the first heavy frost...ooh la la! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This 1992 Gainesville Tree Farm introduction (probably Hedychium flavescens x gardnerianum) is one of the longest-flowering of the ginger lilies, starting here in late July or early August and continuing until frost. The 4'+ tall stalks are topped with scrumptious, golden-yellow flowers with a dark gold throat. In early evening, the air is perfumed with their strong honeysuckle-like fragrance. This rapid grower will make a 3-4' wide clump of arching canes in only a couple of seasons. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
For those variegated plant nuts out there, here comes a true breakthrough. From retired plant breeder Dr. Moy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden comes this new hybrid (probably Hedychium flavum x coccineum) with white paint-like speckles covering the otherwise green foliage. In September, clumps of Hedychium 'Dr. Moy' are topped with fragrant, peachy-orange flowers with a darker orange throat...exquisitely fragrant! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This Tom Wood hybrid is the tallest and most imposing ginger lily we grow, both for size and for flower. Starting in late July, the towering 9' tall stalks of Hedychium 'Elizabeth' are topped with clusters of giant, brilliant reddish-orange flowers. In late afternoon, the exquisite honeysuckle-like fragrance wafts through the garden from its lofty perch...pure poetry. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
(syn: Hedychium coccineum var. aurantiacum PDN Form) We grew this for a long time as a selection of Hedychium coccineum, but now know it to be a hybrid with that species. Hedychium 'Flaming Torch' forms a huge mass of 6-7' tall stalks, each topped with a 1' long head of orange flowers in mid-July (NC). Following flowering, a new set of stems emerge, which flower in September and October. Our eight-year-old patch is 6' wide at the base and looks like a series of giant torches...quite stunning, but allow plenty of room. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
From Nepal comes possibly the showiest of all of the hedychium species. Hedychium gardnerianum boasts giant flower heads of brilliant yellow, fragrant flowers, but the highlight is the dark orange stigmas that protrude from each flower and provide a stunning contrast from September through November...weather permitting. Please join me in a late night toast to protruding stigmas! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Hedychium gardnerianum 'Extendum' is one of the largest and most robust of the gingers that we grow, making a 8' tall stalk, ending with 1' long spikes of fragrant light yellow flowers, each highlighted by a bright orange protruding stamen. Be sure to check your homeowner association rules to see if protruding stamens are allowed in your neighborhood. For us, Hedychium gardnerianum 'Extendum' begins flowering in early September and continues through October...as long as frosts and neighborhood associations don't interfere. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Hedychium greenii has long been one of our favorite gingers, only we have never been able to overwinter it outdoors until now. Finally, a form that we got from plantswoman Linda Guy has survived since 2007 including one winter at 9 degrees F. The 3' tall stalks, that emerge for us in late June, are adorned with dark olive green, red-backed leaves. The stalks are topped, starting in mid-July and lasting until fall, with orange-red terminal flowers. Since Hedychium greenii is sterile, it has learned to reproduce by plantlets that form on the old flower stalks. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
We have grown this little-known ginger for several years under the misspelled name 'Kanogie'. One of our favorites, the strong 6' tall stalks are topped in late summer with stunning 1' tall flowers heads of large, butterscotch-orange, fragrant flowers. The flower color is quite unique among the gingers we grow, and a plant in full flower is a crowd stopper. You are probably wondering what a Kin Ogi is? We assume it is the person who found the ginger, but it could be something much more fun...let us know if you know about Kin Ogi. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
From Dr. Moy's breeding efforts at the San Antonio Botanical Garden comes this hybrid ginger (probably Hedychium gardnerianum x coronarium). The 7' tall, lushly foliaged clumps of Hedychium 'Dr. Moy' are topped in fall (early October in NC) with large, lusciously fragrant trusses of very light yellow flowers, each with a contrasting dark yellow eye. This has proven to be one of the best of the new ginger introductions in our trials. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Year in and year out, the most spectacular ginger in our garden is still an old hybrid from India, Hedychium 'Pradhanii'. A mature clump of this vigorous grower is composed of dozens of 7' tall stalks, each topped with large spikes of light peach-colored flowers from late summer until frost. The throat of each flower is peach-colored, changing to yellow near the end of the petals...a light honeysuckle fragrance is included at no extra charge! If you are looking for just one showstopper, this is hard to beat. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This uniquely-colored Doyle Smittle hybrid is a marvelous ginger that has really stood out in our garden. The 6' tall stalks of Hedychium 'Tai Golden Goddess' are topped in late summer with 12-14" heads of sweetly fragrant, golden-orange flowers (RHS 23B)...absolutely stunning. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
We are pleased to offer several wonderful new introductions from ginger breeder Doyle Smittle. Hedychium 'Tai Monarch' makes a 50" tall clump, topped from midsummer until fall with huge 12"or larger flower heads. Each flower head is composed of more than 100 light yellow (RHS 4D) flowers with the intoxicatingly strong fragrance of honeysuckle. This has proven to be a fantastic new ginger. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This Doyle Smittle hybrid looks like Hedychium coronarium on steroids. The 5' tall stems of Hedychium 'Tai Savannah are adorned with huge green leaves, then topped, starting in midsummer, with 12" tall inflorescences. Each flower head is home to more than 100 very fragrant, creamy-white flowers with a darker yellow central pattern. The contrasting yellow-orange stamens are a nice "Martha" touch. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This 5' tall Doyle Smittle hybrid begins flowering in mid-July and continues until frost with 10" flower heads of fragrant, light yellow flowers atop the 5' tall stalks. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
We are pleased to finally offer Hedychium 'Vanilla Ice', a selection from Hedychium 'Dr. Moy' from NC's Mark and Louisa Messenbrink that was introduced in limited numbers around the year 2000. Hedychium 'Vanilla Ice' has much more white flecking than its parent, which reduces it in both size and vigor...a good thing for smaller gardens. The rare, reverted, larger-growing, less-variegated shoots should be promptly removed. In our trials, it rarely exceeds 3' in height and is topped in late summer with deliciously fragrant peachy-pink flowers...a real charmer! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Hedychium 'Palani' is an imposing Hawaiian hybrid that makes a massive patch of 8'+ tall stalks, topped from summer until fall with masses of flower heads of fragrant bright orange flowers. This is not a selection for small gardens, but if you need to hide a neighbor's pig farm, this is certainly the plant for you! Hedychium 'Palani' is one of the most "axed" about ginger in our garden! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Hedychium 'Anne Bishop' is a Hawaiian hybrid that has consistently ranked among our top performers since 2000, but due to its slow multiplication rate, we are only now offering it for the first time. The 5' tall stalks are adorned with huge, tropical-looking leaves and topped from summer through frost with giant 1' tall x 6" wide floral panicles. The flower color ranges from rich golden orange in the heat of summer to a lighter golden yellow as temperatures cool, but the intensely sweet fragrance is the same regardless of the season. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
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