Plant Min Zone: 7b
Plant Max Zone: 11b
Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Average, High, Very High
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Late Summer
Flower Color: Orangish Red
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: Yes
Drought Tolerance: Low, Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Medium, High
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low
Poor Soil Tolerance: No Extreme Soils
Height: 4' - 7'
Width: 2' - 3'
Growth Rate: Medium, Fast
Service Life: Short: 1-3 years
Maintenance Need: Medium
Spreading Potential: Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3
Best Side of House: South Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Base of Retaining Wall Locations, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Large Tropical Foliage / Flowers, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Needs Regular Irrigation, Needs Thick Winter Mulch
Hardy Ginger (Hedychium) are typically grown for their late summer flowers and vertical wide-leaf foliage. The plants are large tropical and subtropical herbaceous perennials with a rhizomatous rootstock native to areas with a summer monsoon and dry winter. They can be grown as flowering summer patio plants. If growing as a potted plant and trying to overwinter, allowing the foliage to frost is ok, it will not kill the root system. However, do not allow the pot with rootball to freeze solid or go below 20 degrees for more than a few hours; move into a cold garage or basement over the winter with no watering. Cut back and allow to go dormant and place entire pot back out in April or May with a time-release fertilizer. Another more labor intensive way to overwinter cannas is to remove them from the dirt, dust with fungicide, place in box with sawdust, and keep in the refrigerator. We consider this method old-fashioned and too much work but ok if you only want to save a few pieces. If digging from the ground, just save a big chunk with the dirt intact and place into a large pot in the garage. During the growing season, fertilize, water regularly, and place in full sun. You may also plant these in the ground for an enormous tropical effect! It is possible to overwinter these in the ground in Kansas by mulching 6-12" thick over deeply planted rhizomes. New growth may be slightly delayed but probably quick to regain full height. Native habitat for most hedychiums aligns well with our dry winters and warm humid summers. In our trial gardens in Lawrence, KS (zone 6a), we will be testing several varieties in 2022-2023. Famous plantsman, Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina, advised us that hedychiums should survive fine here in the ground when mulched like cannas. Hedychium coccineum features orange flowers.