Hardy Ginger Hedychium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- he-DEE-kee-um
- Description
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Hedychium is a genus of around 80 herbaceous perennial plants in the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family native to Asia. They have thick fleshy rhizomatous roots but are not the type used in cooking. These plants can grow 3-6 feet tall and 2-3 wide. They have tropical-looking foliage, and the flowers are usually very fragrant, blooming in summer. Some species can survive down to zone 7B with protection.
These tropical plants prefer moist, well-drained, organically rich soils in full sun. They lend a tropical look to the garden as well as fragrant flowers. Use in groups, borders or containers.
Several types of hardy ginger are used for essential oil production.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Banana Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Daniel Weeks', Peach Delight
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Daniel Weeks', Peach Delight
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hedychium
- Family:
- Zingiberaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Essential oils are extracted from some of the plants
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Madagascar, Indonesia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and small mammals will eat the fruits
- Edibility:
- Roots are edible but not flavorful
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Three-part capsules change from green to brown as they ripen in the late fall. Each contains a fleshy orange aril.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant four-petalled flowers with long stamens, resembling butterflies, appear at the top of the plant in clusters in summer. They can be white, yellow, and orange. Most open from the bottom upward over several weeks to several months, each floret lasting only a few days.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The green lance-shaped leaves can be up to 2 feet long and 4-6 inches wide. The sheathed leaves are widely spaced and alternate with entire margins and pointed tips. Some may have a few hairs on the undersides.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The pseudostems arise from the rhizomes and are composed of long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles similar to canna lilies.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Nighttime Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
