Hedychium coronarium Elizabeth

Hedychium 'Elizabeth' is an ornamental ginger with absolutely delicious pink flowers, both in terms of their salmon pink colour with hints of peach and orange, as well as their size and honeysuckle fragrance. Very beautiful, this variety is also one of the largest in our collection, with floral stems reaching human height.  They usually appear in the second half of summer, perfuming the air on warm evenings. This opulent rhizomatous species is a water and fertilizer-loving plant. Semi-hardy, it is cultivated like a canna: plant it near a water source or in a large exotic bed or in a large container to overwinter. 

Hedychium 'Elizabeth' is a horticultural selection resulting from the cross-breeding of several species, including the Hedychium coronarium, a large species native to cool Asian woodlands. This plant belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is a fairly hardy variety, deciduous in winter, but can tolerate brief periods of frost, down to -7  to -10 °C. When mature, this thick rhizome plant with rapid growth will form an elegant clump, reaching a height of 1.80m (6ft) to 2m (7ft) and a width of 80-90cm (32-35in) in our climate (or when grown in a container). It consists of leafy canes with ,lanceolate, green to dark green, glossy, alternate leaves that are wide, solid, and sheathing. Flowering occurs from late July to September in mild climates, and mainly in autumn elsewhere. The inflorescence, which can measure up to 25-30cm (10-12in) in length, is composed of numerous small salmon pink flowers, pleasantly scented, somewhat resembling those of Gauras with their compound structure of small petals surrounding protruding orange stamens. They attract numerous bees.  The above-ground vegetation disappears in autumn as soon as it freezes, but regrows from the stump in spring. In a greenhouse, it persists in winter.

Hedychium 'Elizabeth' is a magnificent plant that deserves the gardener's full attention. Cultivate it in large pots or in the ground only in regions protected from severe frosts. In the garden, one can create a tropical-inspired bed, for example by combining this ginger with a Chinese palm tree, a Japanese banana tree, with a backdrop of Colocasia and giant Canna. In mild climates, the ornamental ginger will accompany the flowering of Abutilons, Cassia, Lantana, Brugmansia...