GENUS HEDYCHIUM
Hedychiums are the plants that made gingers famous (well almost famous). The Hedychium coronarium, or "White Butterfly Ginger" is probably the most popularly grown ginger and rightly so. It is easy to grow, increases well, has beautiful white flowers, heavy sweet fragrance, can grow in full sun (with plenty of moisture) to filtered shade, and it is hardy to USDA zone 7. But the genus does not stop there, not by a long shot.
Other Hedychiums are available with flowers of red, pink, orange, yellow and white, plus every color in between. Foliage is upright, from as short as about 2 feet to as tall as 8 feet. Leaves are usually dark green and shiny, but some (like H. greenii) have purple tones.
Hybridizers have had a lot of fun with this plant, creating cultivars with names like 'Disney', 'Fireworks', and 'Double Eagle'. Look out Hostas. Hedychums will take your names and Kaempferias will take your place - at least in the lower and coastal South.
Most Hedychiums are cold hardy to zone 8 and some to zone 7. Some Hedychiums are naturally dormant in winter, but most will stay green in frost free areas, or freeze back in colder areas, then return in the spring.
