How to Grow and Care for Ginger Lilies

Ginger lily may look delicate, with its tiny petals and petite flowers, but it's a surprisingly hardy plant—if you care for it correctly. These fragrant tropical plants, which are native to Asia, bloom in August and September with small flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white.

Ginger lilies, or Hedychium, are part of the same plant family (Zingiberaceae) as the ginger you use in the kitchen. Not true lilies, these plants are a pretty, warm-weather accent to garden beds or containers when grown and cared for properly. Follow these tips from gardening experts on how to best care for your ginger lilies.

Varieties of Ginger Lily

The ornamental ginger lily genus, Hedychium, comprises about 30 different species, with another 60 hybrids and cultivars available on the market, says Michael Del Valle, outdoor horticulture manager at Atlanta Botanical Garden. "Many hybrids, such as ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Tara’, and ‘Anne Bishop’, have all three of these represented as parent species, and thus feature large, vivid butterfly-like flowers with a sweet fragrance atop tall tropical foliage," he says.

The look of a ginger lily can vary based on its species and parents. "Cultivars such as ‘Tara’ feature much larger inflorescences, but with more densely packed, smaller, bright orange flowers," says Del Valle. "H. coronarium has small inflorescences, but with large, pure white flowers."

However, most ginger lilies boast flowers in the warm color spectrum, including pink, red, orange, and yellow. "Cultivars such as ‘Tahitian Flame’ even feature variegated foliage to add an extra tropical feel," says Del Valle.

How to Care for Ginger Lily

Although it has lily in its name, this variety leans more to the ginger side, which is why it needs more care than its traditional lily cousins (which are hardy throughout several zones). The plants are hardy in USDA Zones 7b to 10b, says Del Valle, which roughly includes the west coast and southern regions of the country. "Ginger lilies are tough, rhizomatous perennials that go dormant at the end of autumn as the weather cools down, then re-sprout from their rhizomes each spring," he says.

Soil

Ginger lilies thrive in "well-drained, rich, organic soil," says Del Valle, but will tolerate wet spots. "If planting in sandy soils, make amendments to increase the moisture retentive quality," he suggests.

Sunlight

Ginger lilies like bright sunlight and warm temperatures, which makes them best suited to a southern climate. "They prefer to live in full, direct sunlight, and while they can tolerate some partial shade and add a tropical feel to the shade garden, they will flower less profusely," says Del Valle.

Water

"The biggest thing is keeping ginger lilies well-watered during the summer months, whether they are grown in containers or in the ground, and on the dry side come winter," says Andraé Protzman, merchandise manager at Gurney's. "They can suffer from root rot if they are too wet during the colder months."

Fertilizer

These flowers are heavy feeders, so organic compost and fertilizer will help them succeed. "Gingers are robust growers. They need regular fertilization when they are actively growing," Protzman says. He recommends a 10-10-10 blend; a mix of compost and organic fertilizer in the spring will also help the plant thrive, along with regular mulching.

"A good layer of mulch can work wonders for ginger lilies, because it protects the rhizomes from winter temperatures, retains moisture in the summer, and keeps weeds from stealing any nutrients and water from the soil," says Del Valle.

How to Care for Ginger Lily Outdoors in the Winter

In the right zones, ginger lilies will protect themselves during cooler times of year. "Foliage will collapse after the first frost and can be left to provide insulation, says Del Valle. "If you choose to tidy the foliage after the frost, add a layer of mulch to protect the rhizomes underground."

The lily doesn't need deadheading. Del Valle recommends leaving the previous season's flowers for winter interest. The rhizomes can also be taken out of the ground to winter in peat moss or sawdust and then replanted in the spring.

How to Care for Ginger Lily Indoors

Ginger lilies grown outside in containers in the summer can be moved inside for the winter after the first frost, allowing them to stay dormant and survive the winter. "Potted ginger lilies can be brought into a protected garage or basement to carry out their dormant period after the first frost," says Del Valle. They like to be cool and dry when its chilly, so you should reduce their daily watering schedule and minimize sunshine, says Protzman.

Since the plant prefers plenty of sun and warmer temperatures, ginger lilies typically don't perform well when kept inside all year—except in a greenhouse.

How to Prune Ginger Lily

Low-maintenance ginger lily doesn't need to be pruned, says Del Valle. Some growers opt to trim the foliage after it collapses in the early winter, but even that's optional; in general, take a less-is-more approach. "Any pruning done to the stems throughout the growing season will result in losing the flowers, as they appear on the apex of each stem," say Del Valle. "Tipping back the stems will not result in branching, as is the case with many other plants."

How to Grow Ginger Lily From Seed

To grow ginger lily from seed, watch for the seeds to appear in the fall. Sow immediately in a container inside, and keep the temperature between 70 and 75 degrees. "Barely cover them and keep moist," says Del Valle. "They may take several months to germinate."

How to Propagate Ginger Lily

Since ginger lilies aren't grown from cuttings, the quickest way to propagate the plant is with rhizome division in the spring, says Del Valle. "Make sure to leave four to five of the pointed growth points on each division made, and plant 2 to 3 inches deep," he says.

If you are growing a plant indoors in a container, expect to divide the rhizomes regularly to keep the plant from overcrowding its pot.

How to Transplant Ginger Lily

If you're transplanting a ginger lily purchased at your local nursery, prepare a hole twice as wide as the current pot and equally deep, says Del Valle. "Amend the backfill with good compost and some organic fertilizer. Fill the hole so that the garden soil is level with the soil from the potted plant."

Like propagating, transplanting should only be done in the spring. "Avoid any dividing or transplanting any time after the end of August," says Del Valle. "You’ll want to allow sufficient time for new transplants or new divisions to establish before winter comes."

When Do Ginger Lilies Bloom?

Ginger lilies are a late summer-to-early fall bloomer, showing off a batch of pretty flowers that lasts for weeks. "They have a sweet, lovely aroma that can be smelled from a distance," says Del Valle. "Butterflies and hummingbirds are frequent visitors! To maximize flower quantity and quality, make sure they get plenty of regular water and sunlight in good fertile soil."

If you are growing ginger lily in a greenhouse, you can still expect just one bloom session a year. "Ginger lilies will naturally go dormant if planted outdoors, but if kept in a greenhouse, they will remain evergreen," says Del Valle.

Common Problems With Growing Ginger Lily

These flowers may look delicate, but they're surprisingly sturdy. If you give them enough heat, humidity, and moisture, you can expect them to thrive. "Slugs or snails may go after new leaves as they unfurl, and spider mites and mealybugs can be an issue if grown in a greenhouse," says Del Valle. "But ginger lilies are very tough plants, and few insects and diseases affect them."