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Ginger Lilies Make Gorgeous, Exotic Backdrops For Any Flower Garden

By Kenneth Clark


For true gardeners there is nothing more enjoyable than spending time puttering and planting. If you are experienced, you know which flowers will thrive and which won't survive. When you're designing your garden, and need something dramatic and showy as a backdrop for your smaller clusters of flowers, you should consider ginger lilies. These blooms have plenty of height, some species reach ten feet, and are fairly easy to grow.

You may think you are unfamiliar with these flowers, but if you have ever been to Hawaii, and been gifted with a lei as you stepped off the plane, these blooms were probably incorporated into it. The plant is also known as the butterfly lily because of the graceful way the petals expand in the summer and fall. They have a ginger scent that is not as strong as the herb. Some gardeners describe the aroma as a cross between honeysuckle and gardenia.

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.

These plants are not at all drought resistance. They need regularly watering and feeding with a balanced fertilizer about every seven days. Plants in containers have to be divided annually because the rhizomes will multiply. The tallest of the plants should be staked so they don't snap on a windy day.

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.

If you want to add more of these lilies to your garden, you can generate them from existing rhizomes. You just have to divide the rhizomes into sections and soak the them with a fungicide powder and water solution. After about twelve hours of soaking they are ready to plant in organic soil. They will grow quickly in spring and summer.

You can also grow the lily from the red seeds the blossoms produce. You must store them for three or four weeks after you have removed them from the flower. They need to be soaked before planting to soften the outer coating. Germinating can take as much as six weeks or more. Any danger of a freeze must have passed before planting.

Flower gardens are wonderful additions to homes. Most gardeners don't mind the work it takes to get dramatic and colorful results. A backdrop of majestic lilies may be just the thing you need to complete your garden design.




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