The Fragrant Perennial Bulb With Pretty Flowers That Butterflies Can't Resist

Let's be honest, a garden feels a bit empty without butterflies. Luckily, though, attracting butterflies to a yard or garden is pretty easy. All you need is a few flowering plants, and butterflies will come flying right in. But who has the time to plant flowers every year, right? Well, that is exactly where ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium) comes in. Also known as butterfly ginger and butterfly lily, this is an herbaceous perennial known for its highly fragrant and showy white flowers. The flowers appear on the plants from late summer to early fall and attract many pollinators, including butterflies. In fact, some even say the flowers themselves look like butterflies. 

As for its size, the ginger lily grows about 4 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. Although it lives for several years, it dies to the ground in winter. However, if you live in a warm area or grow it in a warm place like a greenhouse, it can stay green year-round. You can even grow it in containers and move it inside for the winter. Just make sure to choose the right container and keep it in a frost-free, dry location.

If you are planning to grow it permanently outdoors, however, keep in mind that it is categorized under USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. If you live outside these zones, you will need to look for other fragrant plants to include in your butterfly garden. Also, even in its hardiness range, you might need to protect it with mulch in winter if you live anywhere colder than zone 8.

The intensely scented blooms of ginger lily alone are enough to attract butterflies to your yard. However, if you want even better results, plant ginger lily in patches or groups. Large masses of flowers attract more butterflies than small, scattered clumps. That is in part because patches also offer a better supply of nectar than individual plants. Just make sure that you space the plants right when planting in groups. Ginger lilies need to be planted about 24 to 36 inches apart. Other than that, make sure the soil is moist, well-drained and organically rich.

You can easily grow ginger lily from bulbs. Once established, this plant does not require much care other than regular watering. Do make sure to water consistently, though, especially if you are growing them in containers or pots as they dry faster than the ground. You can even automate your plant watering by installing an individual drip irrigation system. And if you are growing ginger lily in the ground, keep an eye out for spreading via underground rhizomes, which can form dense thickets. 

No matter where you are growing ginger lily, make sure it gets plenty of sun. This plant can grow well in partial shade, too, but the foliage grows better when it gets full sun. Its leaves have this beautiful tropical look that pairs wonderfully with decks and patios. Other than that, trim its blooms as they fade. The flowers only last about a day and cutting them induces more flowering. In fact, given the right conditions, ginger lily can produce hundreds of flowers in a period of about 6 weeks. The butterflies in your garden won't be able to resist them.