Subtropical Garden in Carmel Valley

Ornamental Gingers August and September are the months that ornamental gingers bloom in my garden. What a magnificent sight to see a clump of Hedychium coccineum flower. The orange torch-like 1-feet long ginger flower cone has 30-40 buds and they almost bloom at the same time creating a tropical exuberance. They fire up shade area for 1-2 weeks and the flowers are gone, fleeting yet magnificent. Hedychium coronarium , so called butterfly ginger blooms soon afterwards. The large white butter-like flowers are beautiful, but the fragrance is heavenly sweet and spicy, reminiscent of Hawaii . The flower cone is not a long as Hedychium coccineum and flowers bloom in sequence prolonging the flowering length. Heduchium “ Elizabeth ” flowers about one week after butterfly ginger. The hybrid has only a slight fragrance, but the flower has a beautiful salmon pink color and is very attractive. Heduchium gingers needs lot of water and bright shade. They grow