Perennial
Hedychium 'Devon Cream'
Devon Cream ginger lily
Also known as: Hedychium densiflorum 'Devon Cream', Hedychium 'Dixter'
A tall, rhizomatous ginger lily with broad leaves and fragrant creamy-yellow flower spikes from late summer.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
- 30–50 cm (12–20 in)
- H3 · Zone 8
- August–October
- Deciduous
Overview
Raised at Great Dixter and named for its soft, creamy-yellow flowers with a rich fragrance by both day and evening, this vigorous hybrid ginger lily forms upright, leafy stems topped by trumpet-like blooms from late summer through October. A warm, sheltered position with rich, moist soil helps it flower reliably before frost cuts the display short. The rhizomes tolerate brief freezing once established and deeply mulched, provided winter soil drains freely, but foliage is frost tender and collapses at the first cold snap.
At a Glance
Growing Conditions
Aspect Suitability
- East-facing
- South-facing
- West-facing
Soil Tolerance
- Chalk
- Sandy
- Loam
- Acid
- Neutral pH
- Alkaline
Foliage
- Architectural foliage
Foliage interest: May–October
Seasonal Timeline
- Flowering Aug Sep Oct
- Foliage May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
- Propagate Apr May
Maintenance Calendar
- Apr Divide crowded clumps as growth resumes
- May Add compost mulch and a balanced feed
- Jun Maintain generous moisture through active summer growth
- Jul Support tall stems if they begin to lean
- Nov Cut back dead stems and deeply mulch well-drained crowns
Garden Design
Works well in: Architectural, Contemporary, Cottage, Tropical, Tropical / Exotic
A tall, fragrant late-season accent for a warm sheltered border; site close to a path or seating area so the evening scent can be enjoyed.
Companion planting: Bananas, Cannas, Tall grasses
Wildlife Value
- Bees
- Shelter
- Food source
- Food
Safety
An ornamental ginger, not a substitute for edible ginger. Avoid eating rhizomes or seed.