Kahili Ginger, Hedychium sp.

Has anyone grown this in the SF Bay Area? My brother has had great success with it in a container in Somerset, England, so (not to be outdone!) I'd like to try one here. Also, is there a good supplier - mail order or local nursery?

I had one a couple years ago--I kept mine in a pot but I think even over here they'll make it through the winter just fine so you shouldn't have trouble with them. I see them at local nurseries from time to time, so you should check the ones near you and see if they have them (probably best to call first--even the places I've seen them don't always have them). For mail order sources, best thing to do is go to Plant Scout and see if anyone lists them there, I'm sure you'll find at least a few.

Thanks once again, ecrane3, you are very helpful. I found that Willow Creek sells them, but I'll need to wait till the spring.

We have them (not sure if it's the same kind, but we have a few different green ones, and a variegated one, I don't remember the names), at my work-nursery, Rising Sun Nursery, but it's in Burson, CA...probably too far for you to drive?

I have this Hedychium growing in my northern Marin County garden and it is very hardy.
We got down to 23 degrees for several nights in a row and it came back like a champ.

I used to grow this ginger up on the Mendocino coast and it was almost a pest it performed / grew so well.
Once established it can be a bear to lift and divide.
I broke a spading fork once dividing a giant clump.

I have been pretty sparse with the watering this year and I am amazed at how well this plant has been doing with so little water.
Must admit though, it has not bloomed quite as well as it has in other years when I was a bit more generous with watering.
It's a very tough plant .