Gingers

Currently a seriously undervalued group of plants, gingers are set to become increasingly and rapidly popular in the near future.  And for heaven's sake why not !  Many of the hedychiums, for example, are hardy plants whose flowers are individually  as pretty and intricate as any orchid, some spikes have over fifty flowers in them, many are extravagantly and sexily fragrant.  Cultivation is generally straight forward - in the garden as much food and water as possible when in growth, drier resting period over winter.  In pots or bedded out - treat them as you would cannas except that many of them don't need to be kept frost free, just dry and cold.

ALPINIA

These are an interesting group of plants that are just starting to become available in the UK.  Some are hardy enough to withstand a winter outside in many parts of the UK, but they may not flower or even come into growth easily in spring.  This remains to be seen once they are tried out more widely.

An interesting plant, only recently available in this country.  Grows leafy stems with beautifully variegated leaves - creamy pinstripes overlaid on dark green - reaching 1.5m high.  If the plant is overwintered frost free, or allegedly even after mild winters, the stems produce a terminal inflorescence of white flowers etched with pinky red.  Said to be one of the hardier gingers, recommended for growing in z7 in the US.  

Another interesting plant, again newly cultivated.  Plain green but attractively lush foliage reaching 1.5m or more, and allegedly flowering on one year old stems, producing attractive but discreet white/pink flowers.  Rhizomes are used in Asian cooking.  Said to be hardy - USDA z8.

Another allegedly hardy ginger - to z8 - but needing to overwinter to flower, this has attractive dark foliage to around 60cm high thus should prove to be an interesting ground cover plant for the 'jungle' 

Makes leafy piles of dark green foliage on stems that can reach 2m.  Gorgeous nodding clusters of fragrant pink flowers are produced the second year, making this a plant to overwinter frost free outside of central London or west country gardens.  Plant itself is said to be z7.  There is a superb yellow variegated form Alpinia zerumpet 'Variegata' that is less vigorous but even more attractive. 

CAUTLEYA

A handsome plant, with leafy stems reaching 60cm or so and producing a purplish inflorescence from which protrude intermittent blooms of pale yellow.  Not the showiest ginger but a pretty, reliable and hardy plant.  To my shame I have yet to grow this.

CUCURMA

A race of gingers that produce their inflorescences on seperate shoots from the leaves, sometimes these shoots are hidden near the base of the plant, sometimes the shoot elongates to display the bloom at the same level as the leaves.  To date only one, tender, species is commonly seen as a houseplant - Cucurma  alismatifolia - but there are many other equally beautiful species.  Some of these have been proved to be hardy in zones 7/8 in the US, which is encouraging for trial over here.  Once again, the problem may be our stop/start springs which could prevent the plant from breaking dormancy properly. 

The source of the spice turmeric, made from the rhizome.  Naturally deciduous, pale pink/white flowers, foliage reaches 1m or more, z7b in the US.

Large leafy and gorgeous sounding plant reaching 2m high.  Flowering stems are produced before the leaves in spring, topped by large pink inflorescence.  Deciduous.  Enormous potential - z7.

90cm exotic foliage and short pale pink flowering stems that are lost amongst the leaves during late summer.  Said to be the hardiest of the cucurmas, there is a variegated form in cultivation.  As before - loads of potential, z7, yet to be tried.

ELLETARIA

Exotic groundcover for jungles, reaching maybe 90cm the leaves have attractively wavy margins.  Strong smell of cardamom when brushing past the leaves, the dried seed pods are the commercial source of this spice.  Great pot plant - but may even be hardy ?

HEDYCHIUM

A race of absolutely gorgeous plants - some of these I think are amongst the best exotics that can be grown in the UK.  Depending upon their provenance, some species are deciduous and some will remain evergreen if kept frost free in winter.  Generally the deciduous ones will turn a clear yellow before dying off completely, and this complements beautifully the burst seed pods which are normally bright orange within and contain bright red fruits. 

Narrow foliage, slender stems to 1.8m, yellow-fading-to-peach flowers, hardiness u/k, rated z8.

In itself a pretty plant with slender foliage and stems reaching 1.8m high, topped by open clusters of bright orange flowers, not overly hardy - rated to z8 - but not a patch on :

This really is a superlative plant, one of my top 5 favourites.  A form collected by the eminent plantsman Tony Schilling and named after his daughter, this is superior in very way to the species.  It is much hardier - in fact one of the hardiest gingers.  It is about the same height but much more robust, the leaves are very broad, and the stems and leaf reverse are coated with a attractive glaucous patina.  The fragrant flowers, which  are produced in 40cm spikes with over 50 open together, are individually gorgeous creations in bright orange with protruding red stamens.  If kept frost free it will remain evergreen, even keep on growing, and flower earlier the next year on these late shoots.  I mean, what more can you ask of a plant ? ( 1998 )

The common name of Butterfly Ginger perfectly describes the way the broad white flowers seem to dance around the stems.  It will grow leafy stems to 1.5m or so, but in this country seems reluctant to produce those gorgeous flowers, which are not only large but extravagantly scented.  Rated as extremely hardy in the US down to z7, seems less keen to get on with things over here.  Again kept ticking over frost free this will remain evergreen.

Very hardy plant, with narrow leafy stems to around 1.5m high and a compact and attractive inflorescence of densely packed fragrant ( my wife says rotting cucumber, but I think she is being unkind ) orange flowers that all open together to form a tight spike.  Deciduous. ( 1998 ) 

Said to be an improved form of the species with denser flower spikes, better habit and hardier, it seems little different to me to be frank.  Deciduous.  ( 1998 )

Another Tony Schilling introduction, this time named after his son.  this is very different in appearance to the other densiflorum plants, being much more robust and slow to 'clump up'.  The flowers are larger and an interesting pale apricot.  Rarely seen, even more rarely available for sale, this is a lovely plant worth searching for.  Hardy.

Somewhat elusive, the real McCoy is difficult to find.  Plants under this name are widely circulated in the Dutch bulb trade but are usually something else - either H. thrysiforme or H. gardnerianum.  This should be a large 2m high, hardy plant, with broad dark glossy leaves topped by a very densely clustered spike of very fragrant white flowers that have very protruding yellow stamens.  I have never actually seen one in the flesh mind you - hopefully this year ?

Actually I don't think the plant in the picture, or the plant that I have gorwing, is this but in the absence of the proper name I will leave this entry as it is.  Either way, this plant is absolutely superb, with large heads of pale yellow flowers that have the most incredible, far-reaching perfume. The orange red stamen protrude and contrast and with over 30 flowers opening together give quite a show.  It is fairly short at around 1.2m and hardiness hasn't been tested but in flower is stunning.

A real exotic beauty.  This has tall 2m or more stems of very long jungly leaves topped by inflorescences of sweetly spice scented ( reminiscent of Narcissus 'Paperwhite' - to my nose, anyway ) white spidery flowers that are produced in succession.  Not as showy as some, but reliable, vigorous, hardy and I wouldn't be without it.  Deciduous ( 1998 )

This beauty has everything on it's side except hardiness, being borderline anywhere outside of central London and the west.  It is a reliable flowerer, grows vigorously, is easy and extremely rewarding to look after.   Broad leafy stems are topped by impossibly full spikes of 50 or more bright lemon yellow flowers that have red protruding stamen - these are arranged in a strange tilt to the plane of the flowers giving it the look of a surreal hair roller.  Add to this a heavy, sexy, spicy scent and you get a marvelous plant.  In warm and wet climates to it's suiting, this beauty has become an eradicable weed, choking established pine forests with acre upon acre of tangled rhizomes.  Here we struggle with it - such is life. ( 1999 )

A bit different, this has smaller leaves that are dark green with a maroon velvety reverse - very attractive - and bright orange stubby clusters of flowers.  Often these flowers are followed by bulbils - a rarity in hedychiums  but seen from time to time in the ginger family.  Outside it rarely exceeds 1.5m but under cover it can reach 3m, but wherever it is grown it has very heavy water requirements - even growing in boggy conditions.  Reputedly tender, I have heard reports that it is in fact quite hardy enough to try outdoors in many parts of the country.

I don't know much about this other than it is sometimes classified under H. forrestii and has a much larger, showier flower.

A small-ish ginger growing to maybe 80cm high with restrained white flowers produced in succession that are carefully marked in the throat with yellow and orange.  Sweetly scented flowers give a good crop of seedpods in autumn.  Deciduous and very hardy. ( 1999 )

Similar to the above but maybe a touch larger with more pointed leaf tips.  Possibly also hardier.  Sometimes encountered as just Hedychium acuminatum.  Deciduous, hardy.  ( 1999 )

A short but leafy plant that has attractive wavy-edged leaves, this produces from a densely packed spike a succession of slightly fragrant spidery white flowers quite late in the year.  So late, in fact, that none of mine have ever made it before winter.  Early days, though.

Don't know much about this, I have a small plant and will update here when I know more.  Short, epiphyte with creamy flowers ?

This is nice.  Grows to maybe 1.5m tall and has an interesting red zigzag pattern along the stem made by the clasping leaf sheaths that have a reddish edge.  The leaves are quite large and the flowers are similar to H.spicatum but larger and with more colour in the throat.  Nicely scented and also does the trick with the seed pods.  Should be fairly hardy. ( 1999)

KAEMFERIA

Unknown over here other than to collectors growing under glass, there is a chance that some of these may be hardy.

Shade loving, ground hugging plant that has distinct coloured cultivars of purple and/or silver marked leaves.  Flowers are neat, discreet pale mauve affairs buried within the leaves.  Not in cultivation yet but maybe worth a try once available.

Taller plant at 60cm, the showier fragrant white and mauve flowers are produced before the leaves in spring.  Also maybe worth a try when available.

ROSCOEA  

A group of plants that have proven their hardiness and are much beloved of alpine plant growers; I have yet to try any, and am not familiar with them at all although I aim to rectify this in the near future.  All are best in cool, shady and moist conditions and species to try include R. cautleiodes, humeana and purpurea.

ZINGIBER

Said to be a very hardy plant in the US down to z7b, this small ginger is well worth trying as ground cover for jungly bits once it becomes available.  New shoots are eaten in Oriental cooking.

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