Hedychium J.Koenig contains some truely spectacular species, originating from the Himalayas, the Asian Pacific and Madagascar.
Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. is native to southern China, the Himalayas, India and Indochina where it grows on the edge of forests and in mountain grasslands. Flowers are red to yellow. Both the Plant List and Plants of the World online do not recognize any varieties. But it is possible to acquire plants named as varieties so we are listing some of these below.
Hedychium coccineum var. aurantiacum is not listed in the various data bases as an accepted variety, but Hedychium aurantiacum Roscoe is considered to be a synonym of Hedychium coccineum. It could be considered a cultivar. It is a Himalayan species with glaucous foliage and small orange-red flowers. Photos by Alani Davis.
Hedychium coccineum var. angustifolium (Roxb.) Baker is as suggested by the epithet angustifolium commonly known as narrow leaf ginger. It is synonymous with Hedychium angustifolium Roxb. which is now considered to be a synonym of Hedychium coccineum. Photos by Antigoni Rentzeperis.
Hedychium coronarium J.Koenig is a very fragrant white-flowered species that typically reaches 5-6 ft in height and is hardy to zone 7. Photo by Alani Davis.
Hedychium deceptum N.E.Br. may be more commonly found under its synonym H. rubrum, but has been returned in 2015 by Sanoj & Sabu to the older name established in 1921. Originating from Assam it is another reasonably hardy ginger, at least down to USDA Zone 8.
Photos by Martin Bohnet, who needs a warm October in Germany for flowers to actually open up - the brilliant red (bordering orange) is definitely worth the wait and contrasts beautifully with the dark green leaves. The last photo shows the same plant 2 years earlier with less favorable weather and likely starving in a much smaller container - these flowers never opened.
Hedychium densiflorum Wall is a widespread species from the Himalayas. As always with such a wide range, properties like hardiness depend on the origin of the cultivar in question.
Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange' is said to be one of the hardiest gingers. Although seed is often sold with this name, strictly the name should only be used for the original cultivar collected by Frank Kingdon Ward from the Phutang/Balipara Frontier track at an altitude of 2,000 m (6,500 ft) on 8 July, 1938. The plants shown in the photos by David Pilling were grown from seed sown in 2007 and flowered in late Summer 2008. Plants grow just over three feet high.
Hedychium flavescens Carey ex Roscoe is a sturdy Hedychium with arching pseudostems with broad leaves. The light yellow flowers are very fragrant and are hardy to at least zone 7. Photo by Alani Davis.
Hedychium flavum Roxb. is native to tropical Tibet and China. It has grey green leaves and creamy yellow flowers with a spicy citrus scent. It is a hardy to zone 8 and should be stored in dry peat moss or moved indoors in winter in colder areas. Photo taken November 2017 at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens by Bob Rutemoeller.
Hedychium forrestii Diels is a ginger lily named after George Forrest, the famous Scottish plant hunter who operated primarily in Yunnan, China, from where it originates. Growing to some four ft in height, the plant bears very attractive open spikes of white flowers. Photographed at my home, where I grow it in large pots, protected in a cold greenhouse in the winter when it is dormant. Photo by David Victor.
Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker Gawl. is known as the Kahili Ginger. A tall ginger growing to six feet tall in the right setting, it originates in the northern India Himalaya. In the late summer, this species carries very beautiful flowers, which are very fragrant. Photographed at my home, where I grow it in large pots, protected in a cold greenhouse in the winter when it is dormant. It is hardy to at least zone 7. Flower photos by David Victor and Alani Davis. Photograph of roots with an inch diameter coin by David Pilling.
Hedychium tengchongense Y.B.Luo is a highland species from southern China and, according to the source of the 'Trum Trom' cultivar, Vietnam, is a species with scented, long-tubed white flowers and prominently exserted red stigmas. It is said to be hardy down to -15 °C. The picture shows a plant of said 'Trum Trom' variety as sold by Crûg Farm, cultivated in a container by Martin Bohnet.
Hedychium thyrsiforme Sm. is a fragrant species which produces clusters of many small white flowers & is hardy to at least zone 8. Photos by Alani Davis.
