Heliconias for Central Florida Heliconias are a group of herbaceous plants that bear spectacular, brightly colored inflorescences. They are common landscape items in the warmer areas of Florida and throughout the tropics. Widely grown for the florist industry, Heliconias are often called “Lobster Claws” because some of the inflorescences resemble a lobster’s claw. Heliconia hirsuta The genus Heliconia belongs to the ‘Per‘Peru’u’ Heliconiaceae Family and is the only genus in the family. There are etc.) into the soil and surrounding areas. temperatures. Once a Heliconia stalk approximately 200 different species of Plant the Heliconia deeper than it is in flowers, it will eventually die. Heliconia with numerous hybrids and the container. This will help with stability Here at Leu Gardens, we have been cultivars found in cultivation. The of the plant. Heliconias often form growing and experimenting the last few Heliconiaceae Family belongs to the rhizomes near the surface and our loose, years with different Heliconias to find order Zingerberales. Other plant families sandy soil tends to allow the stalks to ones suitable for our climate. Here are found in this Order (and the closest lean or fall over, especially with the the ones that we have found suitable for relatives to the Heliconias) include the added weight during flowering. The Central Florida. Musaceae (bananas), Zingerberaceae smaller species can be planted 2-4 inches Some of the smaller Heliconias will (gingers), Strelitziaceae (bird-of-paradise) deeper than they are growing in the do well in the landscape or in containers. and Cannaceae (cannas). Heliconias are container but the larger ones can be Heliconia angusta ‘Holiday’ is a dwarf native mostly to Central America, South planted up to a foot deeper. Heliconias variety that only grows 2 –3 feet tall. It America, and the Caribbean. A few also need to be kept moist, as they are bears red inflorescences with white flowers species are native to the South Pacific. not very drought tolerant. Most during Christmas time. Heliconia Heliconias grow from rhizomes on stalks Heliconias do well with part sun and densiflora ‘Fire Flash’ is also a smaller that can range from 1 to 20 feet tall, part shade though some need full shade, plant reaching 3-4 feet tall. It bears depending on the species or variety. depending on the variety. Heliconias are reddish-orange inflorescences. Heliconia They have lush, green foliage similar to also heavy feeders, similar to bananas. psittacorum has dozens cultivars and bananas or cannas. Even when they are Fertilize them 3 to 4 times a year using several of these are widely available at not flowering, their lush foliage gives a a good general garden fertilizer, such as nurseries and gardens centers. ‘Andromeda’ tropical feel to the landscape. In their a 6-6-6 or 10-10-10 is a dwarf only growing 1-2 feet tall native habitats, hummingbirds, bats, or The stalks and foliage of Heliconias are with orange inflorescences. The others insects pollinate many Heliconias. cold sensitive and will be damaged or commonly found can reach 3-5 feet tall. Some of the species of Heliconia killed back to the rhizomes by temperatures These include ‘Lady Di’ with red bracts make great specimens for the Central around 30°-32° F. If frozen down, they and yellow flowers, ‘Kathy’ with Florida landscape. They are easy to grow will grow back from the roots but many orangish-red bracts and orange flowers and virtually pest free. In the landscape, will not flower until the following year. and ‘Strawberries and Cream’ with give Heliconias a good rich soil. When Plant them in a protected location. They strawberry-red bracts and pale yellow planting, mix a good amount of organic do well under tree canopy and this helps flowers. Though Heliconia psittacorum is matter (cow manure, peat, compost, protect them from frost and freezing commonly available, it is a borderline plant in our area. It is Heliconias to grow in Central Florida. ‘Distans’ is a smaller form with red and sensitive to cool weather Heliconia schiedeana is probably the yellow bracts and only grows 3-5 feet and usually will go hardiest of all the Heliconias. Even the tall. Heliconia x pabstii ‘Brazilian dormant even if it does foliage can tolerate slightly lower Bomber’ is a large growing plant that not freeze. They do not temperatures before being damaged, can grow 6-12 feet tall. It is a cross dependably return from usually in the 28-29° F. range. It grows 5 between H. bihai and H. pendula. The the rhizomes in Central to 6 feet tall with inflorescences that inflorescences are deep red. When they Florida but are common have red bracts and yellow flowers. This first emerge they are upright but after enough and sold cheaply Heliconia was uncommon but is that they could be used beginning to be grown by Heliconia psittacorum as annuals. Heliconia more nurseries and is another x spathocircinata ‘Yellow Parrot’ psittacorum is one of the excellent species for our few that will flower in a climate. Heliconia spissa is single year’s growth. unusual as it has leaves that There are many naturally divide into segments. medium sized Heliconias The inflorescences have yellow that can be grown in our and red bracts with yellow climate. These plants flowers. It grows 4 to 5 feet typically grow in the 4 to tall. Heliconia vaginalis grows 6 feet tall range. Heliconia 5 to 6 feet tall. The bracts are hirsuta ‘Peru’ grows on red with yellow flowers. very slender stems to Several varieties of tall about 4-5 feet tall. It Heliconias can be grown in bears small, reddish- Central Florida. This group of orange inflorescences. Heliconia lingulata Heliconias usually grows over has leaves that are large and oval in 6 feet tall and can reach up to 10 feet in some time they begin to arch over and shape. The inflorescences are bright our climate. Heliconia latispatha is one hang down. It has also been known as orangish-yellow. The cultivar ‘Fan’ is that is sometimes seen in local landscapes. ‘Hot Rio Nights’ and ‘Dmitri Sucre’. usually seen. ‘Spiral Fan’ has inflorescences There are several cultivars of this species. Heliconia x ‘Richmond Red’ is a hybrid with a spiral arrangement. Heliconia ‘Orange Gyro’ bears inflorescences with between H. caribae and H. bihai. It lingulata is another species that will bright orange bracts. This is usually the usually grows over 8 feet tall and bears bloom on stalks less than a year old. cultivar of Heliconia latispatha most deep maroon-red inflorescences. There Heliconia orthotricha ‘Eden Pink’ grows commonly grown ‘Yellow Gyro’ has are dozens of other Heliconia caribae and 5 to 6 feet tall with pink and white yellow bracts while ‘Red-Yellow Gyro’ bihai hybrids. Either of the parents are inflorescences. Heliconia pendula bears has red bracts with a yellow base. tender plants that usually won’t survive inflorescences that are in Central Florida but some of the pendulant or hang down hybrids seem to have some hardiness. from the plant and grows 5 – Eric Schmidt to 6 feet tall. ‘Frosty’ is a cultivar with pinkish-red bracts and white flowers. FOR MORE INFORMATION ‘Red Waxy’ bears red inflorescences. Heliconia BOOKS: rostrata is one of the more Heliconia by Fred Berry and W. John widely grown Heliconias Kress, 1991, Smithsonian Institution and has one of the most Press beautiful inflorescences. Tropical Flowering Plants by Kirsten The bracts are bright red Albrecht Llamas, 2003, Timber Press with a bright yellow lip. The Tropical Look by Robert Lee Riffle, The flowers are pendulant 1998, Timber Press and are about 12 inches in length. Typically, this INTERNET: Heliconia grows 4 to 6 feet Heliconia Society International: tall and is one of the best www.heliconia.org Heliconia schiedeana.