Hedychium densiflorum

RHS Plant Profile
dense ginger lily
dense ginger lily RHS

Synonyms

Hedychium grandiflorum misapplied

Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse

A clump-forming perennial with stems to 1.5m in height, and glossy, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves 30-40cm in length. In late summer produces fragrant orange or yellow flowers in dense, cylindrical spikes 20cm long

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Zingiberaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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
Nepal, E Himalaya

How to Grow

Cultivation

Outdoors, grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Shelter from cold winds and apply a deep mulch of garden compost or leafmould to protect the rhizomes in frost prone areas. Under glass use a peat-free, loam-based compost and grow in bright, indirect light

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 21-24°C as soon as ripe. Divide rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Coastal
  • 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