May not have spelt the name correctly as the tag is a little faded but I understand that this is a member of the ginger family. Suggestions about how best to grow this would be most welcome. I have planted it just at the edge of the grape pergola where it will get full sun for most of the day. The soil is naturally very dry and sandy so I added plenty of compost and am planning to water daily at least until it is established. Am I on the right track? Many thanks. Margaret
Thanks LPN. Had read that it needed water/didn't like to be too wet and that it liked full sun/some shade, so it is good to have a definitive answer. Bought it at a fund raiser for the Sunshine Coast Botanical Gardens which, I think, will be rather an exciting addition to the Coast. Margaret
Won't like dry and sandy soil. As always, a small amended planting hole will not be adequate to address this. If you are planning to install multiple other plants with similar requirements best to bring in suitable soil in volume for this to be planted into. And use lots of coarse mulch.
Thanks for the input Ron. Perhaps the best thing to do is to move it into an area of better soil as I don't want to upset the grape vines, which are very happy in the existing soil, by enriching it to accommodate the hedychinm? LPN and Ron, what are your views about planting it in full sun? I wonder about the hedychinm growing conditions at UBC? Margaret
Theirs are in forest clearings in naturally good moist soil in a rainy location, the site lending itself to the cultivation of east Asian woodland plants. But I don't think you will have to shade yours and lots of warm sun might even optimize results. A hedychium in a Seattle garden is planted right against a hot sunny wall.
Re: Hedychium densiflornm Assam orange Very useful info. Ron. I will make sure that it is kept moist and well mulched. The Sunshine Coast is identified as a temperate rain forest but although it is very wet in the winter we have been experiencing very dry summers with lots of sun. We are also quite close to the ocean which effects our climate. many thanks once more. Margaret
My Hedychium are grown in full sun (and rather sandy, rocky soil). I have in some years, top dressed with composted steer manure or sea soil. As long as adequate moisture is available these seem to be fine. I leave the tops alone through winter. If cut back, winter rains wick down into the rhizomes and are more suceptable to rot. Cheers, LPN (Barrie).
Thanks for the input Barrie. As you probably have conditions pretty similiar to mine I think that I will now leave it where it is but do as both you and Ron suggest and top dress, mulch and keep well watered. It has been in the ground for a couple of weeks now and seems to be happy with daily watering. I am hoping that thrives as it will provide an interesting area between the grapes. If it starts to look unhappy then I will move it. Thanks once more to you both.
I got a great spike on an orange hedychium near a sunny wall last year. Plant has not clumped up but getting it to produce a good bloom was a fairly nice start. This year there is again just one stalk, need to do something like top-dressing to get it going better - not even sure it is going to bloom this time. The hebe in front of it is blooming splendidly, anyway.
According to the person I bought mine off, this is the second year that it had been in the pot and she thought that it might bloom this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed (am also going to water and mulch well, as you suggested), as I am really looking forward to seeing it flower. I am guessing that the flowers will attract bees, butterflies and humming birds? If yours bloom will you post a photo? Margaret
No digital camera yet. Also don't remember what kind it was, maybe the tag is still in the ground. But it was a nice one.
I've noticed Yellow Jacket wasps on mine when these flower. Now that I think of it, I have 'Tara' not 'Assam Orange'. Cheers, LPN.
