Ginger Lilies Are Wonderful, Tall, Colorful Additions To Gardens

By Kenneth Clark


If you love to spend time puttering in your garden, you probably already know what kinds of flowers thrive in it and which ones wither and die. When you need something dramatic, and aromatic, to use as a colorful backdrop for smaller clusters of blooms, you should consider ginger lilies. They are tall, some species reaching ten feet, and will make a dramatic and majestic addition to your garden.

You may not have heard the name, but if you have ever been lucky enough to vacation in Hawaii, the lei you got on arrival was probably woven with these flowers. It is sometimes referred to as the butterfly lily because the petals unfold gracefully in the late summer and fall when the flowers are in full bloom. They have a ginger aroma similar to the herb, but not as pungent. A lot of gardeners describe the scent as a cross between a gardenia and honeysuckle.

Zones seven through eleven, which includes the southern United States, is the optimal location for these plants to grow. They can be planted in partial shade or full sun, except in the southernmost regions where the afternoon sun can wither the leaves. In colder regions of the country, gardeners can successfully grow the lily in containers. If they are planted in the ground in cold climates, they have to be dug up before the ground freezes.

Your lily plants need plenty of water. They need a balanced fertilizer applied about once a week. If you are growing your plants in pots, you will have to divide them each year because the rhizomes multiply. The taller species will have to be staked to keep them from bending and breaking in strong wind.

One of the big benefits of planting this lily in your garden is its ability to repel insects. This is due to the oil it naturally generates. The plants must be watered regularly, but you don't want to over water them because that can rot the roots. This lily will bloom in the fall and late summer. The late blooming saves them from butterfly larvae. Deer will graze on them however.

If you want to add more of these lilies to your garden, you can generate them from existing rhizomes. You just have to divide the rhizomes into sections and soak the them with a fungicide powder and water solution. After about twelve hours of soaking they are ready to plant in organic soil. They will grow quickly in spring and summer.

You can also grow the lily from the red seeds the blossoms produce. You must store them for three or four weeks after you have removed them from the flower. They need to be soaked before planting to soften the outer coating. Germinating can take as much as six weeks or more. Any danger of a freeze must have passed before planting.

A flower garden is a wonderful addition to any home. It takes some work to create just the right design with blooms that grow and thrive. Your lilies, if handled properly, will be the perfect fragrant, exotic background for the rest of your garden.




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