Hedychium griffithianum offers a more delicate, woodland look compared to its flashier cousins, making it ideal for naturalistic gardens, shady borders, and containers. It adds an exotic touch without overwhelming the space. This is a lovely lesser-known species of the ginger family prized for its elegant blooms and refined tropical foliage. With their bold, tropical foliage and delightfully fragrant blooms, Hedychiums—also known as ginger lilies—bring exotic elegance to the garden from midsummer into fall. But what makes them truly irresistible is their diversity: by mixing different varieties, you can extend the bloom season, play with color and texture, and create layered interest that evolves throughout the warm months.
Scott Ogden in his book Garden Bulbs for the South says that Hedychium "show a special affinity for the balmy, sometimes steamy climate of the South...While climbing temperatures exhaust the wills of lesser plants, these robust exotics grow and blossom ever more profusely. For gardeners in the warm South, a summer without the opulent charms of gingers would be insufferable."
What to expect: Hedychium put on its foliage in early spring. The flowering canes will also shoot up from the rhizomes themselves in late spring. The blooms on the Hedychium griffithianum (Hardy White Ginger Lily) are a pale yellow to ivory white. The delicate spidery flowers bloom loosely spaced on tall upright spikes. The flowers have an exotic, airy appearance while their fragrance is light and sweet. The foliage on the Hedychium griffithianum is attractive even without the blooms. The leaves are upright like stems on a reed and are a medium green to blueish with a light sheen to them. Since it is a little shorter than some of the other Hedychiums at 3-5 feet, the rich color of the foliage makes this a great addition for mid-border planting. Hedychium is deciduous and will begin to die back with the first frost in the cooler zones.
Planting: Hedychium does best when planted in full summer sun in zones 8-11. Yes, you read that correctly -- full summer sun! By planting in full sun the plant will get full of foliage. It will still do okay with at least 7-8 hours day of summer sun. Zone 11 may want to consider a few hours of afternoon shade. If it gets too little sun, it will try to reach for the sun and not be as full. Plant the rhizomes in well-drained soil on their side with the tips no more than 1" deep or almost visible with the dirt. Plan on planting in a location where the plants can grow comfortably to their full height of 3-5 feet and several feet wide. Ginger does have water needs. If you want it to perform, be sure that you water them well during hot and dry summers: however, do not plant them in continually soggy areas as this can damage the rhizome. Don't let the soil go completely dry for long periods of time either.
Containers: You can grow the ginger in pots which means you can have it in zones colder than 8, but be sure to bring it in before the first frost. The foliage is excellent for container gardening. Be sure to pay attention to watering your containers though.
? Can Hedychium Grow in Pots? → Yes! And Very Well. - space your rhizomes 4-6" apart and cover with 1-2" of soil.
| Container Tips | Details |
|---|---|
| Pot size | Minimum 12–16" wide and deep for 3-5 rhizomes; larger for established clumps |
| Drainage | Essential—use pots with drainage holes |
| Soil | Rich potting mix with compost or slow-release fertilizer |
| Watering | Water regularly to keep soil moist, but not soggy |
| Light | Bright indirect light or morning sun; dappled shade ideal |
| Overwintering in Cold Zones | Move pots indoors (sunny window or dormant garage), or let go dormant and store cool/dry |
| Re-potting | Every 2–3 years or when clumps become crowded |
Blooms and Foliage: The Hardy White Ginger Lily is all about grace rather than flash. In mid to late summer, slender upright spikes carry loosely spaced, spidery flowers in pale yellow to ivory white, each with long, delicate stamens that give the whole spike an airy, almost feathery look. The scent is light and sweet, best enjoyed up close in the evening. The foliage is just as lovely as the flowers: tidy, reed-like canes of medium green to slightly bluish-green leaves with a soft sheen. At 3-5 feet, it stays more compact and refined than many of its cousins, so it rarely needs trimming or staking and fits nicely in the middle of a border. The flower spikes and cut foliage both work beautifully in arrangements, and the blooms bring a fresh, cool note to the garden in late summer when so much else has faded away.
Multiplying: The Hedychium multiplies slowly. It forms nice clumps over time, and it won't take long to see yours multiply. It should double in size about every 3 years if planted correctly, and you can divide them at that time which will manage their spread, give them space to expand, and rejuvenate growth. Spring is the best time to divide them before new growth begins. Make sure that each portion will have at least one pointed bud.
Animals: Pollinators love Hedychium. We aren't always sure if it is because it is solely based on the fragrance or also because the ginger lily is one of the few flowers blooming in late summer and early fall when so many flowers can't withstand the summer heat and have long faded. Bees and butterflies and occasionally hummingbirds are attracted to this Hedychium. Most Hedychium are moderately deer resistant due to their aromatic rhizomes and coarse foliage, but young shoots may be nibbled at in early spring if food is scarce, and deer have been known to eat plastic flowers. Generally, Hedychium is resistant to squirrels and rabbits.
Differences: We decided to put all of the information at the bottom of the page so that you could see at one glance some of the differences, especially blooming times, between the different Hedychium varieties.
Hedychium Species Comparison Chart
| Species | Flower Color | Height | Zone 8 Bloom Time | USDA Zones | Traits & Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. aurantiacum | Orange to salmon | 3–6 ft | July–August | 8–11 | Bright color, compact; great for tropical effect in mixed beds |
| H. coronarium (White Ginger Lily) | White, fragrant | 4–6 ft | Aug–Oct | 7b–11 | Highly fragrant; very cold-tolerant; excellent for moist areas |
| H. densiflorum | Orange | 3–5 ft | June–July | 7–10 | Earliest bloomer; great for cooler climates; dense flower spikes |
| H. ellipticum | White w/ red-orange spots | 3–6 ft | July–August | 8–11 | Speckled flowers, ornamental foliage; compact grower |
| H. flavum | Lemon yellow | 4–7 ft | July–August | 8–11 | Soft color, elegant form; less common in trade |
| H. greenii | Red bracts, orange-red flowers | 3–4 ft | July–August | 8–11 | Grown as much for red stems and foliage as for flowers |
| H. thyrsiforme | Cream to pale yellow | 4–6 ft | Aug–Sept | 9–11 | Late bloomer, upright growth; more tropical in habit |
| H. gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger) | Yellow w/ red stamens | 5–8 ft | Aug–Sept | 8–11 | Fragrant and bold; invasive in some areas (e.g., Hawaii) |
| H. griffithianum | White to soft pink | 3–5 ft | July–August | 8–11 | Graceful, less vigorous; refined appearance |
| H. speciosum | Yellow-orange w/ red marks | 4–6 ft | Aug–Sept | 8–11 | Bold color, striking flowers; good for back borders |