If you love to spend time puttering in your garden, you probably already know what kinds of flowers thrive in it and which ones wither and die. When you need something dramatic, and aromatic, to use as a colorful backdrop for smaller clusters of blooms, you should consider ginger lilies. They are tall, some species reaching ten feet, and will make a dramatic and majestic addition to your garden.
If you aren't familiar with the name, you will probably recognize the plant as flowers woven into the leis tourists receive when they visit Hawaii. There is a species of the plant that is better known as the butterfly lily. It's called that because the petal stretches out gracefully in the fall and summer when flowers are in full bloom. These flowers have a slight ginger scent that is not a pungent as the herb. The actual odor has been described as a combination of gardenia and honeysuckle.
Zones seven through eleven, which includes the southern United States, is the optimal location for these plants to grow. They can be planted in partial shade or full sun, except in the southernmost regions where the afternoon sun can wither the leaves. In colder regions of the country, gardeners can successfully grow the lily in containers. If they are planted in the ground in cold climates, they have to be dug up before the ground freezes.
You can't just plant them and let them go. The plants must have regular water and a balanced fertilizer feeding about once a week. If your plants are in containers, you'll have to divide them annually because the rhizomes will multiply. Staking the mature plants will prevent them from snapping in high winds.
One big advantage of growing this lily is that the oil it generates repels most insects. Although they need regular watering, you do not want them to sit in waterlogged soil. Root rot can develop and kill off your plants. You will have blooms in summer and fall, which keeps them safe from butterfly larvae. You may have trouble with deer however.
This lily can be propagated by dividing the existing rhizomes. You cut the rhizomes in sections that have roots, then soak them in a water and fungicide powder solution overnight. After that they can be planted horizontally. They will grow best in organic soil and flourish when planted in spring or summer.
You might also propagate them by planting the seeds. The blossoms have seeds you can remove and store in a warm place for three or four weeks. After that you will have to soak them to soften the coating. It may take six weeks or longer for them to germinate. You should not plant them outside until all danger of frost has passed.
Gardening is a great way to relax and adds a lot to any home. Creating the right design, with blooms that will flourish, takes some work. Exotic, fragrant lilies, if planted strategically, can be a perfect backdrop for the whole garden.
If you aren't familiar with the name, you will probably recognize the plant as flowers woven into the leis tourists receive when they visit Hawaii. There is a species of the plant that is better known as the butterfly lily. It's called that because the petal stretches out gracefully in the fall and summer when flowers are in full bloom. These flowers have a slight ginger scent that is not a pungent as the herb. The actual odor has been described as a combination of gardenia and honeysuckle.
Zones seven through eleven, which includes the southern United States, is the optimal location for these plants to grow. They can be planted in partial shade or full sun, except in the southernmost regions where the afternoon sun can wither the leaves. In colder regions of the country, gardeners can successfully grow the lily in containers. If they are planted in the ground in cold climates, they have to be dug up before the ground freezes.
You can't just plant them and let them go. The plants must have regular water and a balanced fertilizer feeding about once a week. If your plants are in containers, you'll have to divide them annually because the rhizomes will multiply. Staking the mature plants will prevent them from snapping in high winds.
One big advantage of growing this lily is that the oil it generates repels most insects. Although they need regular watering, you do not want them to sit in waterlogged soil. Root rot can develop and kill off your plants. You will have blooms in summer and fall, which keeps them safe from butterfly larvae. You may have trouble with deer however.
This lily can be propagated by dividing the existing rhizomes. You cut the rhizomes in sections that have roots, then soak them in a water and fungicide powder solution overnight. After that they can be planted horizontally. They will grow best in organic soil and flourish when planted in spring or summer.
You might also propagate them by planting the seeds. The blossoms have seeds you can remove and store in a warm place for three or four weeks. After that you will have to soak them to soften the coating. It may take six weeks or longer for them to germinate. You should not plant them outside until all danger of frost has passed.
Gardening is a great way to relax and adds a lot to any home. Creating the right design, with blooms that will flourish, takes some work. Exotic, fragrant lilies, if planted strategically, can be a perfect backdrop for the whole garden.
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