Introduction

This cultivar provides a peach or apricot colored, fragrant flower emerging from one large bud in summer at the tip of each unbranched stem. Each flower lasts about one day. Several hundred flowers can appear from each bud during a 6-week period. Each stem grows to about 5 feet tall. These herbaceous perennials spread by underground rhizomes, often forming dense clumps of multiple stems. Large, simple leaves are borne on either side of the thick green stems. Unfortunately, individual flowers do not last after they are cut from the plant.

General Information

Scientific name: Hedychium x 'Shurei'

Pronunciation: hee-DICK-ee-um

Common name(s): 'Shurei' ginger

Family: Zingiberaceae

Plant type: herbaceous

USDA hardiness zones: 8B through 11 (Figure 3)

Planting month for zone 8: year-round

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: aggressive, spreading plant

Uses: border; mass planting; suitable for growing indoors

Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries

Description

Height: 4 to 5 feet

Spread: 2 to 6 feet

Plant habit: upright

Plant density: open

Growth rate: fast

Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: undulate

Leaf shape: lanceolate; oblong

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: 8 to 12 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: orange

Flower characteristic: pleasant fragrance; spring flowering; summer flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: unknown

Fruit color: unknown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: very thick

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Place this ginger near a walk or window so the fragrance and beautiful flower can be enjoyed. The foliage texture makes them nicely suited for creating an accent in a shrub border when it is not in flower.

Plants grown in full sun or partial shade flower best. Those in the shade often grow but few flower buds are produced. Rhizomes can be dug and divided for propagation.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases usually restrict use of this plant in Florida landscapes.