Hedychium 'Kalimpong'

This gorgeous plant is one of the dense ginger lilies, meaning that their long flowerheads are densely packed with blooms. Hedychium 'Kalimpong', which you will rarely find for sale, produces lush, jungle-like, deep green leaves, along with spikes of delicate-looking cream-yellow flowers, with slightly darker filaments and anthers. The fragrance is delicate, and is at its strongest in the warmth of a still, late afternoon. The easy-to-grow and moisture-loving Hedychium 'Kalimpong' is at its finest during a long, warm, growing season. Despite this, it is one of the best for cooler summer climates.

Hedychium densiflorum 'Kalimpong' makes a good container plant – but don’t let it dry out – when it can easily be moved in winter to a frost-free location (to prevent the roots from freezing). Once the foliage has been frosted, cut the stems back to 30cm. If kept outdoors, mulch the base with well-rotted compost and, in really cold areas, add a layer of straw, and cover with an up-turned pot to keep out the winter wet and penetrating cold. Do this, and Hedychium 'Kalimpong' will reward you with fantastic tropical blooms year after year.