Heliconia notes

by: Lisa Cushing

Natural Range:  Central and South America, some South Pacific islands

Landscape uses:  Suitable in the tropical garden.  Large leaves provide lush foliage and inflorescences provide splashes of color in a variety of hues.  Can be used as a screen of varying heights depending on species selected.

Description:  Inflorescences have either a pendent or erect orientation and grow in panicles composed of multiple bracts connected by a rachis, each bract having a coil of hermaphroditic flowers within it (number of flowers varies according to species).  The rachis may differ from the bracts in color and texture and may be either zig-zag or straight.  The bracts can be distichous (on a single plane) or spiral (due to a twisting of the rachis) and either smooth or covered in wooly hairs.  Inflorescences may last from several days to several months depending on the species, but the flowers are open for only a single day.   Primarily pollinated by hummingbirds and nectar feeding bats.  Mature fruit forms in a drupe, and may be either blue or red to orange in color.  Propagate by division of rhizomes.

Internet sources:  http://www.montosogardens.com/large_heliconias.htm

Plants listed in the manual include:

Heliconia angusta 'Holiday Christmas'

Heliconia  bihai x caribaea 'Hot Rio Nights'

Heliconia  champneiana 'Maya Gold'

Heliconia collinseana x bourgeana 'Pedro Ortiz'

Heliconia episcopalis

Heliconia orthotricha

Heliconia psittacorum

Heliconia x rauliniana

Heliconia rostrata 'Lobster Claw'

Heliconia stricta 'Fire Bird'

Heliconia rostrata 'Pink Peru'

Heliconia psittacorum 'Andromeda'