Hedychiums in the Garden

We have a large number of hedychiums which we have been trying out for a few years. Practically all of those mentioned we have found to be hardy. However that is not the main issue when considering whether they are worthy of a place in the garden. Some flower too late to be useful and some are too vigorous and invasive. We grow a couple in pots, but a plant has to be really outstanding to justify this effort.

In Their natural habitat they prefer shade, but we find that with the exception of Forrestii and Densiflorum, they prefer full sun. Grown in shade they don't flower and the clumps start to dwindle. A local National Trust Garden grows them in deep shade in woodland and they are not thriving.

Our Hedychium Top 5:

1=  Corelli and Devon Cream. Both flower  from Early September until mid November, have wonderfully      scented flowers (Corelli white, Deven cream - guess!). Corelli grows to about 6 feet with an upside down cone infloresence, Devon Cream to about 4 feet with a more spiky flower. They grow well together, and don't seem to sulk when moved.

3  Gardeniarum. Flowers Early/Mid September (it's amazing how once you start capitalizing words it gets hard to know when to stop!) until Late October. Wonderful earthy scent. Flowers yellowy orange (there is some variation depending on where they are sourced from) To about 5 feet (or 7 if grown in a pot and brought out). This one doesn't like being moved.

4   Tara. This is quite well known, it is similar to Gardeniarum except that the flower is more reddish and sadly it does not have much scent. It flowers from late August to the mid/end of September.Grows to about 6 feet and is a real 'wow factor plant'. The short flowering season of this plant could be the reason why hedychiums have the reputation of being rather fleeting in flower. As you can see from this section you can have them in flower from early August through to December if you choose a good selection.

5 Densiflorum Stephen.  This is nothing like the rather disappointing assam orange, the flowers being an attractive peach colour and not so tightly packed. I don't find that it has much by way of scent. It grows to about 6 feet and earns its place on this list because it flowers so early, even though it is over a bit quickly. It flowers from the start of August to the end of August, usually over by the bank holiday. Just about overlaps with Tara. (Note for plant nerds - Tara and Stephen were in fact brother and sister. Not that the two plants are particularly closely related. The plant hunter Tony Shilling discovered both plants and named them after his two children.

Could have been contenders (instead of bums, which they certainly are not)

Wardii lots of good feedback from other people. Might be a bit late flowering for outdoors

'Pink Hybrid' Flowers really well and early under glass, will be trying it out for hardiness this winter.

Also rans

Gold Flame - The Wayne Rooney of the hedychium world, stomps around the beds knocking others out of the way,  and is not really pretty enough.It also flowers a bit late, though the scent is good. Seriously though this one will crack pots!

Elizabeth - Came with a great reputation as THE pink one to grow outside. It consistently flowers too late.

Someof these and more can be found at http://www.mulu.co.uk/

Hedychium Devon Cream

This plant has only recently been named and has previously been available as Dixter. It is my top tip as the all singing all dancing hedychium with beautiful scented flower spikes each of which which can last up to two weeks. For us the whole show lasts from the start of September until almost the end of October.

Hedychium Corelli

This plant has also only recently acquired its name, having previously been thought to be and sold as a hardy form of Hedychium Coronarium. It is now thought to be a hybrid of Coronarium and Ellipticum, hence the name. It is huge (5 to 6 feet high), with beautiful citrus type scent and flowers from early September almost to the end of October       

Hedychium Gardnerianum

A stunning plant in flower with a gorgeous earthy scent. This one is well known and hardy. It flowers in early October. However it resents disturbance so constantly moving it or potting and bedding it can prevent flowering. I know, we kept moving it and only had it back in flower this year. 

Gardnerianum flowers quite freely and early if left to establish

Hedychium Tara

 Tara flowers mid August with us and is rather fleeting in flower and has no scent. However it is a real wow factor plant when in flower and covers the gap between Densiflorum Stephen and the later flowered Corelli and Devon Cream. It flowers reliably and we consider it to be a must have for the tropical bed.

 Hedychium Forrestii

Although not scented this is a really reliable and stately plant to 7ft with elegant white flowers through August then bright orange/red fruits in late October and November. We use it to fill in areas in deep shade where, in common with Densiflorum, it flowers happily. Fruit are an attractive feature on Hedychium Forrestii at the end of October.

Hedychium Densiflorum 

Hedychium Densiflorum. The flowers don't last long and are not scented. However it flowers freely and early in deep shade. It also sows seed freely!

Hedychium Densiflorum 'Stephen'  

This one is very different entirely. It has big, well spaced out flowers and flowers early in the year. Our season starts end of July with the small H Yunnanense which overlaps with Stephen in early August  and then on to Tara, (who incidentally was the brother of Stephen - they were both children of Tony Shilling who discovered both plants, which are not related except in the sense that they are both hedychiums) and so to Devon Cream and Corelli giving us three and a half months of Hedychiums!

 And the rest:

We have been experimenting with a number of Hedychiums and are trialling them for suitability for growing outside. I have also bought a number of unnamed and dubious ones which will be featured here.

Hybrid from Reads of Hales Don't know, caterpillers love it though

Lemon Sherbet

Pink V Tending not to flower for us. Also caterpiller food

Luna Moth Too late for garden, big scented flowers if space in conservatory 3 feet

Spicatum  Good plant Flowers September, white flowers no scent 5 feet

Yunnanense    Very good flowers reliably through August, no scent not a lot of presence (2 feet) and small white flowers