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Ten August Favorites

Ginger Lily ( Hedychium coccineum 'Tara') With the exception of a few hot spells, August has been tolerable. However, beginning tomorrow, we are in for a 5-day heat wave. Disgusting! August is the month for plants that really love the heat. I have to begin with the Ginger Lily 'Tara' which is blooming for the first time. I posted a few weeks ago about how excited I was to see the bloom stalk. They have slowly opened with a few flowers every day. It has been well worth the wait.  Other favorites - Continuing the orange theme is Lantana 'Miss Huff' which is growing in a pot (that is the heather 'Firefly' in the foreground). This lantana can survive in the ground if situated in a protected area and it isn't too wet. Previously, one grew in the back garden along the south foundation and got huge (about 3' x 5'). I finally took it out after a particularly tough winter and it was slow to bounce back.  Allium ' Millenium' is a small charme...
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Anticipation



This is exciting! I have wanted an orange ginger lily for as long as I can remember. I tried growing it in Alabama and never got a bloom. I do have a white ginger (Hedychium spicatum) that has had a few blooms. A few years ago, someone told me that 'Tara' is the only one that will reliably bloom here. I don't know if that it true but I finally got one this year (thank you Dancing Oaks!). Planted in April next to our South foundation and given ample water, I can hardly believe it, but it looks like a bloom is imminent - in its first year!

I'm holding my breath...


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonAugust 1, 2025 at 12:20 PM

    I'd be excited too! My fingers are crossed on your behalf.

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  2. AnonymousAugust 1, 2025 at 12:38 PM

    oooh, gutsy move to mention it before it's actually blooming. If I did that, I'd jinx it somehow and then no flower. I hope you have better luck! Maybe my comment will cancel out any jinx.

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  3. tz_gardenAugust 1, 2025 at 4:09 PM

    Fantastic! I can't wait to see - isn't it great when things work out :)

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  4. Ardith FergusonAugust 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM

    Exciting! I can't wait to see your photos of the bloom.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM

    Their culture confuses me a bit. Here in GA, I juggle heat, sunlight, and moisture levels for my white one. Best bloom was in sandy soil and 5-6 hrs morning sun near an irrigation head. Pretty much won’t bloom in my woodland area, though.
    I’ve also got a variegated one that may never bloom but is lovely. All day high shade.

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    1. Phillip OliverAugust 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM

      I've always thought of them as shade plants, too. Here, many plants will tolerate more sun because of the cooler temperatures. I had my white ginger in a lot of shade because the nursery selling it said that it was good in shade, but I moved it to a sunnier location. I think it is going to bloom as well.

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