Hedychium Devon Cream

Hedychium 'Devon Cream', also marketed under the names of Tresco ginger lily, is a variety of tall ginger lily interesting for its hardiness, lush vegetation, and beautiful late summer cream flowering. This large rhizomatous plant displays lush foliage, highly decorative, and an exotic-looking flowering consisting of spider-like flowers. A very beautiful plant for the terrace or a large exotic bed, in a not too harsh climate. 

Hedychium 'Devon Cream' is said to have been discovered in Tresco, in the Scilly Isles, England. It is a hybrid between Hedychium coronarium and H. gardnerianum. All these plants belong to the Zingiberaceae family. 'Devon Cream' is a rather hardy plant, deciduous in winter, tolerating brief periods of freezing, down to -12/-15°C under a thick protective mulch. When mature, this rhizomatous plant will form an upright clump, 1.50m high and 80-90cm (32-35in) wide. It is composed of slender leafy canes with shiny, lanceolate, green to dark green, alternate leaves that are wide, full, and sheathing. Flowering takes place in August-September in mild climates, in autumn elsewhere. The inflorescence consists of numerous small cream-coloured flowers, somewhat resembling those of Gauras with their compound structure of small petals surrounding long protruding orange stamens. They attract many bees. The above-ground vegetation disappears in autumn, but regrows from the stump in spring. 

Hedychium 'Devon Cream' is grown in large pots or in the ground, in a sheltered location away from strong winds and severe frosts. In the garden, you can create a tropical-inspired bed, for example by combining Hedychiums with a Chinese palm tree, a Japanese banana tree, against a backdrop of castor oil plants and giant Cannas. In mild climates, the ornamental ginger can accompany the flowering of Abutilons, Cassia, Lantana, Brugmansia, and other Daturas. In colder regions, it can be grown like a Canna.