Heliconia's (Hot Rio, Rauliniana, Black Cherry, Rostrata, Criswick & Rostrata Yellow) Heliconia is not your average plant - it's a tropical beauty that brings vibrant blooms and lush greenery to any garden. This unique genus is grown using organic methods at Lomalagi, and its striking flowers and interesting shapes make it a favorite among gardeners in tropical landscapes. Use it as a screening option for your own tropical oasis and enjoy an abundance of cut flowers! Light requirement: Full sun or part shade.Water requirement: Water regularly to keep soil moist Watering frequency: Water deeply and avoid frequent, shallow watering. Applying a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant will help retain soil moisture.Soil: Well-draining, fertilised soil. Avoid clay soils as they can cause water-logging.Skill level: Suits Beginner Green thumb, low-maintenance plant.Growth rate: Moderate to fast growth. To ensure growth is steady, fertilise every month in the growing season. Heliconias have an upright growth habit, and love to reaching for the sun. Remove old growth/ spent leaves after winter to make space for emerging leaves in the growing seasons.Suitable for container gardens: Choose a pot at least twice the size of plant. When roots begin to grow out the bottom of the container, pot up into a larger size. Seasonality: Evergreen Drought Tolerant: YesFrost Tolerant: Can tolerate occasional light frost once established. Suits temperate climate.Wind Tolerant: Yes Leaf colour: Shades of green vary from varietyLeaf Variegation pattern: No Size of leaf : The leaves can vary in size, shape, and colour, depending on the species. Heliconias have large broad paddle-like, green leaves that form a dense clump at the base. ‘Hot Rio’ Mature Height : 3-4 metres tallMature Width: Plant with spacing of 1-1.5 metres Flower Colour: Red Flower Shape: Bird-beak ‘bracts’, the flower spike can grow close to 1 metre!Flower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/ Autumn ‘Rauliniana’ Mature Height: 4-5metres tallMature Width: Varies as it spreads out, 1-1.5 metres Flower Colour: Red & Yellow Flower Shape: Lobster-like pendulous ‘bracts’Flower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/ Autumn ‘Black Cherry’ Mature Height: 3-4 metres tallMature Width: Varies as it spreads out, 1-1.2 metres Flower Colour: Dark-maroon/ cherry red Flower Shape: Bird-beak ‘bracts’Flower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/Autunm ‘Rostrata’ (commonly called lobster-claw, parrot beak or false bird of paradise) Mature Height : 1.5-2.5 metres tallMature Width: Varies as it spreads out, 1-1.2 metres Flower Colour: Red flower with yellow tips Flower Shape: Parrot-beaked. A large number of flowers grow on each stem, pendulous (hanging) & striking habit.Flower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/ Autumn ‘Rostrata Yellow’ (a rare species!) Mature Height: 1.5-2 metres tallMature Width: Varies as it spreads out, 1 metre Flower Colour: Yellow Flower Shape: Similar to ‘Rostrata’ Flower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/Autumn ‘Criswick’ Heliconia bihai x caribaea Mature Height: 4-5 metres tallMature Width: Varies as it spreads out, 1-1.5 metres Flower Colour: Red to orange, sometimes with yellow or green highlights. Flower Shape: Flowers are arranged on tall, upright stems that can grow as tall as 1.5metresFlower Fragrance: No strong fragranceFlower Season: Summer/Autumn
