How chilly is chilly? Sometimes our winters are mild, reaching 30-32 for lows a few times, but some winters are more harsh, in the 20's. For me in Louisiana, even when we do get into the 20's, in a day or two, the daytime temps are back into the 60's. Consequently, H. Coronarium usually never goes dormant and continues to slowly grow during the warm spells. The leaves do turn brown from a combination of cool weather and less sun but if they don't freeze, your blooms will continue to develop. Most of my gingers are planted in a sheltered location on the south side of my house with a live oak canopy overhead so even if it drops into the upper 20's, they don't get frozen. I don't have this ginger but I've been told that H. Daniel Weeks blooms earlier than any other Hedychium. Don't know if that one is hardy in Zone 7 but H. Coronarium should be. With more cold sensitive gingers, I wrap mine in an old blanket with clothes pins.

Steve