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Conservatory GreenhouseHerbaceous Perennial

Hedychium greenii

red ginger

A tender, clump-forming perennial with oblong, mid-green leaves up to 25cm long and bright red, butterfly-like flowers produced in summer in cylindrical spikes 12cm long

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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring
Summer Red Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H2
Botanical details
Family
Zingiberaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Suckering
Genus

Hedychium are rhizomatous perennials with erect, unbranched stems bearing two ranks of lance-shaped leaves, and dense terminal racemes of showy, often fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
E Himalaya to Assam

How to grow

Cultivation

Outdoors, grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Shelter from cold winds and consider apply a deep mulch of garden compost or leafmould to protect the rhizomes in frost-prone areas. Under glass, use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No 3 and grow on in bright, indirect light

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 21-24°C as soon as ripe. Divide rhizomes in spring. Sometimes produces bulbils which can be sown when ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

No pruning required other than cutting back the foliage and old flower spikes at the end of the season

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and aphids under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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