A
full
sun

C
part
shade

D
full
shade

¤
tactile

ä
edible


AGM

Hedychium coccineum (Sch. 1184) 'Tara' AGM

This is a superb, strong growing plant for the garden with leafy shoots to 2 m, lovely glaucous foliage and spikes of spectacular orange to orange-red flowers 30 cm or more in height. 

In 1993 'Tara' was awarded an AGM by the RHS and given the hardiness rating H3.  This indicates that the RHS suggest that the plant is "hardy outside in some regions or particular situations or which, while usually grown outside in summer, needs frost free protection in winter e.g. dahlias".  We think that 'Tara' is much hardier than this implies and it does not need to be lifted each winter like a dahlia.  Indeed, lifting 'Tara' every winter like a dahlia would almost certainly prevent it from ever flowering.   'Tara' is one of the hardiest and most reliable of the Hedychium for the open garden and remains green and leafy until it is frosted.   'Tara' does benefit from mulching in severe winter weather where frost is likely to penetrate the soil significantly but this is hardly necessary in most situations.

There is some debate as to whether 'Tara' should i) be classified as a form of Hedychium coccineum as it was originally by Brian Mathew or ii) classified as Hedychium gardnerianum, as has been suggested by Tom Wood or iii) treated as a hybrid.  We can so far see no convincing reasons for treating it as H. gardnerianum so we have kept it here under H. coccineum pending formal publication of any nomenclature change.  Whether in the garden or under glass we find that each inflorescence bract of 'Tara' produces 4 to 6 flowers in succession.  This is similar to H. coccineum but different from H. gardnerianum which produces only 2 flowers per bract and at the same time.  Although some people report otherwise, 'Tara' seems to have very little scent in our experience, even in the evening.  Again this is similar to H. coccineum but different from H. gardnerianum which is heavily fragrant.  On the other hand, 'Tara' seems very similar H. x raffillii and H. x kewense which are reputedly synthetic hybrids between H. coccineum and H. gardnerianum; perhaps 'Tara' is a naturally occurring hybrid between H. gardnerianum and H. coccineum.

'Tara' originated as a 'blind' collection of seed by Tony Schilling in Nepal.  When the seed germinated at Wakehurst Place the plants proved remarkably uniform and the group of seedlings (a grex) was eventually named 'Tara' in honour of Schilling's daughter.  The word "tara" is Nepalese for "star".  Since 'Tara' originated as a grex and not a clone there is the possibility for some variation in the plants in cultivation; this may have been increased by nurserymen raising ‘Tara’ from seed.  We have one clone of 'Tara' that produces abundant pollen whereas another produces none.  Variability in the cultivar may also explain occasional reports of 'Tara' being noticeably scented.

To read Tony Schilling on the subject of 'Tara' click here.

'Tara' is rather similar to but much hardier than the currently rare Hedychium x raffillii.  The differences are discussed here.

Growing conditions  A C

Price - £9.50 for a plant in a 3 litre pot.

Click on the images for a larger view

'Tara'                       'Tara'                                 'Tara' vs x raffillii
                    

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