Re: Overwintering Cannas and Hedychium

--- Dave Poole <dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Alpinia zerumbet is possibly one of the more
> spectacular species, with
> stout canes towering skyward and very glamorous,
> orchid-like blooms at
> their tips.  No chance of seeing them outside a
> greenhouse anywhere in
> the UK - it cannot cope with our long cool winters
> and even without
> frosts, invariably dies back.  This species seems to
> need a good 6
> months with temperatures well above 60F and a very
> few weeks with
> temperatures dipping below 40F.  It can recover
> stupendously in
> regions which have spring heat surges, but not in
> the UK.  That said,
> I reckon that the exceptionally handsome variegated
> form - A. zerumbet
> 'Variegata' is worth trying (with winter protection)
> for its leaves
> alone.  
> 
> Dave Poole
> TORQUAY  UK
> 

I find that Alpinia zerumbet and A. zerumbet variegata
both do very well here in cool summer but also mild
winter Berkeley, and we do not get any sort of heat
surge in spring or consistent summer weather above 60F
here.  In winter we generally do have 4~6 weeks of
temperatures which can dip down into the mid 30'sF,
but the the norm is closer to 40'sF.  I'd suggest that
very fast draining soil or tree/overhang protection
with a south sun exposure in winter, may be all that
is need to grow this in southeast England outdoors,
(and protection from winter winds).  Our spring
through summer temps are more normally in the 55~65F
range, with nights down to the low to mid 50'sF, if
this helps anyone decide if it is worth growing.  I
find that the much taller growing A.
zerumbet(12~15'tall in my garden), seems to need less
summer heat to bloom, the dwarfer variegated form is
less inclined to bloom here without heat, and is much
more demanding of regular water and feeding to clump
up quickly.  It can quickly look very straggly if not
watered enough, and has failed to thrive even in
rather well maintained situations such as the new
entry garden at Strybing Arboretum, where many of the
Fishtail Palms have also failed to thrive(too much
wind in the case of the palms, and too little heat
most likely in the case of the variegated Alpinia). 
Alpinia zerumbet regularly blooms for me each
October/November in full shade, and will often
continue into January, as the flowers are much longer
lasting than Hedychium flowers.


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