Description
| Hedychium forrestii, or Forrest’s Hardy Ginger Lily, is a towering, fragrant perennial native from Assam to southern China and Indo-China, prized for its late-summer floral display and bold foliage. Rising to 6–8 feet tall, this rhizomatous member of the Zingiberaceae family unfurls broad, glossy, canna-like leaves along stout stems, culminating in large, white, narrow-petaled flowers that resemble Hymenocallis (Peruvian daffodil) and emit a sweet, lingering scent both day and night. Hardy to USDA zones 7b–9b, it thrives in part shade with moist but well-drained soil, and benefits from winter protection in colder or exposed gardens. Many sites suggest it is sun tolerant, but we’ve found it tends to sulk in afternoon heat even in our temperate climate. With its architectural stature and intoxicating bloom, H. forrestii offers a dramatic, sensory-rich presence in temperate gardens—especially when sheltered from frost and given room to stretch skyward. |
