Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Ginger Lily Question, 0 by gingersrus

gingersrus wrote:
If you only have 14 inches between the fence and your driveway, Hedychiums might not be the best answer, since most of them tend to flop over at least to some extent - some worse than others. Also, I would assume being in Clearwater and wanting to hide the fence, you would want something evergreen - not something that will yellow and die back every year during its dormant period. That would eliminate Curcumas, although a few, like 'Scarlet Fever', will stay green into December or possibly early January (as Liz said). Alpinias would be evergreen there, and some (like A. zerumbet) are plenty tall, but 14 inches is really too narrow if the "great white fence" and driveway are really that close. Same with my personal favorites - Costus.

I cannot think of anything that would be ideal in the ginger family. I really think you will be better off with some kind of shade tolerant vine growing up the fence if that will not start a war with your neighbor. Thunbergia grandiflora comes to mind, possibly in the beautiful white flowering variety - 'Alba' - which has bigger flowers and broader tropical looking leaves. I think it would be evergreen there in Clearwater, as it nearly is here in Tallahassee in a mild winter. Another possibility would be Bignonia capreolata if you are gettiung some afternoon sun. You might even consider the "bleeding heart vine", Clerodendrum thompsoniae. It is absolutely beautiful and is evergreen in frost free or very light frost areas.

Dave Skinner
http://www.gingersrus.com