Growing Ginger

Q: Will ginger grow in Decatur?

A: Ginger lily (butterfly ginger), Hedychium coronarium, is a beautiful, fragrant perennial that graces many Southern gardens. It’s usually winter-hardy if covered lightly with mulch. This plant is not the same as edible ginger, Zingiber officinale. Edible ginger is a bit less cold-tolerant. Best success comes from growing it in a large container which is stored indoors during winter.