Alphabetical Plant Listing

Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger)

Kahili Ginger, Kahili Ginger Lily, Ginger Lily, Yellow Ginger Lily, Kahila Garland-Lily, Kahili Garland Lily


A popular landscape ornamental plant, award-winning Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger) is an upright rhizomatous perennial boasting cylindrical spikes, up to 18 in. long (45 cm), packed with up to 50 fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers, 3 in. wide (7 cm). A long and prominent red stamen emerges from each yellow flower, giving the inflorescence a striking appearance. Blooming in late summer and early fall, the showy blossoms are borne at the tips of upright stems and rise above the equally dramatic foliage of gray-green, lance-shaped, leathery leaves, up to 1 ft. long (30 cm). The foliage looks great, even not in bloom, on patios or decks with a tropical theme. The flowers give way to small capsules that split open when mature to reveal bright orange inner surfaces and bright red seeds. One of the hardiest hedychiums, Kahili Ginger is a bold and architectural perennial that brings an exotic touch to the garden and containers.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Grows up to 5-6 ft. high (150-180 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm). Kahili Ginger reproduces by seed and also vegetatively via its creeping underground rhizomes.
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade, in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Shelter from cold winds. Apply a deep mulch of garden compost or leaf mold to protect your plant in frost-prone areas. With mulching, Kahili Ginger can withstand temperatures between 10–20°F (-12 to -16°C).
  • A pretty addition to beds and borders, containers, wall-side borders, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, or Mediterranean gardens. This is a vigorous plant with large rhizomes that can easily break containers if they do not have sufficient room for the roots, so use large, sturdy containers.
  • Virtually disease free. Keep an eye out for glasshouse red spider mites and aphids.
  • Cut back the foliage and old flower spikes at the end of the season.
  • Propagate by seed at 21-24°C (70-75°F) as soon as ripe. Divide rhizomes in spring.
  • Native to the Himalayas in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It has naturalized in other areas, including the Caribbean and Hawaii, and is considered an invasive species in some parts of the world.

Not sure which Hedychium - Ginger Lilies to pick?
Compare All Hedychium - Ginger Lilies

Buy Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger)

Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 9 – 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Hedychium - Ginger Lilies
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 5' – 6' (150cm – 180cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 30" (75cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Buy Plants


Shutterstock, (c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 9 – 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Hedychium - Ginger Lilies
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 5' – 6' (150cm – 180cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 30" (75cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Plant Calculator

How many Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.