Description
Each year during late summer or early autumn you will be rewarded with beautiful very showy flower spikes that make growing this plant very worthwhile and rewarding.
Kahili ginger is an ornamental, tropical plant that will grow to about 2.5m when planted in suitable soil and looked after. It is often referred to as Ginger Lily. The beautiful bright yellow to orange flower spikes emerge from the end of the stalk. There are long pinkish to red stamens that extend from the flower producing a beautiful contrast to the yellow of the rest of the flower.
Orange fruits form that ripen to red and attract a variety of birdlife into your garden
Other Names
Ginger Lily, Kahila garden lily, Wild ginger lily, Salmon butterfly ginger.
Characteristics
Lifecycle - perennial
Height - 2.5m
Width - 60 to 90cm
Flower Size - 15cm
Flower Colour - Yellow to orange
Leaf Colour - green
Common Pest and Diseases
Kahili Gingers are very robust and not susceptible to many pests or diseases. But occasionally you may find the following affecting them:
- Red spider mite
- Aphids
Water
Watering should be done at least weekly - the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Monitor the top 3cm of soil and if this becomes dry, then watering is required.
Thoroughly water and allow a deep soaking to occur.
Scientific Classification
Genus - Hedychium
Family - Zingiberaceae
Order - Zingiberales
Class - Liliopsida
Phylum - Tracheophyta
Required Conditions
- Light - grow best in Full sun to partial shade.
- Water - do not tolerate extreme dry conditions. Best to ensure that the soil id kept moist.
- Temperature - they do not tolerate frosts, but will grow well in temperatures down as low as 2oC.
- Soil - Well drained soil is best. So a sandy loam is ideal. They do not tolerate extremes in pH, so slightly alkaline, neutral, or slightly acidic is ideal.
Fertilising
Apply a general fertiliser to the base of the plant 4 times a year.
Pruning
Trim diseased and withered branches after flowering. Remove this at the base.
