Hedychium ‘Tara’ – Flowering Ginger, Red/Orange (Bare Root)

This Perennial is a strong growing ginger which grows up to to 6-8 feet tall. The Ginger Lily is a great addition to any garden or patio wanting to add a nice tropical feel. Its blue-green stems topped with 18 inch long spikes bearing the inflorescence of 4 to 6 fragrant orange-red flowers that appear in succession, or sometimes two at a time, over an extended period from summer through fall. The fragrance of the flowers is likened to that of a Gardenia.

Hedychium ‘Tara’ is one of only a few hedychiums to be awarded the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden MeritHedychium ‘Tara’ emerges in late spring with 6′ stalks of grey-green foliage that rocket skyward. In late summer, the vigorous clumps are topped with lightly fragrant, 16″ bottlebrush spikes of bright orange flowers.

• Sunlight: Full to partial sun
• Hardiness Zones: Zb-10
• Soil: Humus rich, moist but well drained soils
• Care: Propagate by dividing rhizomes in the spring. Protect the rhizomes from freezing in the winter by adding a thick layer of mulch.

Is the Ginger Lily edible? These ginger lily flowers produce essential oils that are very tasty. Ginger lilies have edible roots too, but unlike the ginger you buy in the store, these do not have much flavor.