When it comes to adorning a tropical landscape, few plants can compete with the exotic beauty of Heliconia. Native to the lush regions of Central and South America, heliconia belongs to the genus Heliconia, the only genus in the family Heliconiaceae. With more 200 captivating species, heliconias are known for their vibrant and distinctive flower bracts that paint the landscape with shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of Heliconia, exploring their physical attributes, species, care, and cultivation.
The Allure of Heliconia: A Visual Delight
At first sight, heliconia plants captivate with their unique appearance. These perennial herbs boast stout or reed-like stems, and their banana-like leaves often shimmer with a coppery sheen, featuring ivory and pink midribs. However, it’s the inflorescence that steals the show. Composed of waxy, leaf-like bracts, the inflorescence forms a colorful spectacle, hosting numerous small flowers within its embrace. These flowers, depending on the species, can display a breathtaking palette of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, making heliconia an irresistible attraction for both humans and wildlife.
Exploring the Heliconia Family
1. Heliconia Abaloi
2. Heliconia Acuminata
3. Heliconia Adflexa
4. Heliconia Aemygdiana
5. Heliconia Albicosta
6. Heliconia Angelica
7. Heliconia Angusta
8. Heliconia Apparicioi
9. Heliconia Arrecta
10. Heliconia Atratensis
11. Heliconia Atropurpurea
12. Heliconia Aurantiaca
13. Heliconia Auriculata
14. Heliconia Badilloi
15. Heliconia Barryana
16. Heliconia Beckneri
17. Heliconia Bella
18. Heliconia Berguidoi
19. Heliconia Berriziana
20. Heliconia Berryi
21. Heliconia Bihai
22. Heliconia Bourgaeana
23. Heliconia Brachyantha
24. Heliconia Brenneri
25. Heliconia Burleana
26. Heliconia Caltheaphylla
27. Heliconia Caquetensis
28. Heliconia Carajaensis
29. Heliconia Caribaea
30. Heliconia Carmelae
31. Heliconia Chartacea – Heliconia Sexy Pink
32. Heliconia Chrysocraspeda
33. Heliconia Clinophila
By Dick Culbert
34. Heliconia Colgantea
35. Heliconia Collinsiana
36. Heliconia Combinata
37. Heliconia Cordata
38. Heliconia Crassa
39. Heliconia Cristata
40. Heliconia Cucullata
41. Heliconia Curtispatha
.jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_longa_(14674280947).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 10")
By Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia
42. Heliconia Danielsiana
.jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_danielsiana_(9712592684).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 11")
By Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
43. Heliconia Darienensis
44. Heliconia Dasyantha
45. Heliconia Densiflora
46. Heliconia Dielsiana
47. Heliconia Donstonea
48. Heliconia Episcopalis
49. Heliconia Estherae
50. Heliconia Estiletioides
51. Heliconia Excelsa
52. Heliconia Farinosa
53. Heliconia Faunorum
54. Heliconia Fernandezii
55. Heliconia x Flabellata
56. Heliconia Foreroi
57. Heliconia Fragilis
58. Heliconia Fredberryana
59. Heliconia Fugax
60. Heliconia Gaiboriana
61. Heliconia Gigantea
62. Heliconia Gloriosa
63. Heliconia Gracilis
64. Heliconia Griggsiana
65. Heliconia Harlingii
66. Heliconia Hirsuta
67. Heliconia Holmquistiana
68. Heliconia Huilensis
69. Heliconia Ignescens
70. Heliconia Imbricata
71. Heliconia Impudica
_(29856107273).jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_impudica_(Heliconiaceae)_(29856107273).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 12")
By yakovlev.alexey from Moscow, Russia
72. Heliconia Indica
73. Heliconia Intermedia
74. Heliconia Irrasa
75. Heliconia Julianii
.jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_julianii_(9712499043).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 13")
By Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
76. Heliconia Juruana
77. Heliconia Kautzkiana
78. Heliconia Lanata
79. Heliconia Lankesteri
80. Heliconia Lasiorachis
81. Heliconia Latispatha
82. Heliconia Laufao
83. Heliconia Laxa
84. Heliconia Lentiginosa
85. Heliconia Librata
86. Heliconia Lingulata
87. Heliconia Litana
88. Heliconia Longiflora
89. Heliconia Longissima
90. Heliconia Lophocarpa
91. Heliconia Lourteigiae
92. Heliconia Lozanoi
By Dick Culbert
93. Heliconia Luciae
94. Heliconia Lutea
95. Heliconia Luteoviridis
96. Heliconia Lutheri
97. Heliconia Maculata
98. Heliconia Magnifica
99. Heliconia x Mantenensis
100. Heliconia Marginata
101. Heliconia Mariae
102. Heliconia Markiana
103. Heliconia Marthiasiae
104. Heliconia Meridensis
105. Heliconia Metallica
106. Heliconia Monteverdensis
107. Heliconia Mooreana
108. Heliconia Mucilagina
109. Heliconia Mucronata
110. Heliconia Mutisiana
111. Heliconia Nariniensis
112. Heliconia Necrobracteata
113. Heliconia x Nickeriensis
114. Heliconia Nigripraefixa
115. Heliconia Nitida
116. Heliconia Nubigena
117. Heliconia Nutans
118. Heliconia Obscura
119. Heliconia Obscuroides
120. Heliconia Oleosa
121. Heliconia Orthotricha
122. Heliconia Osaensis
123. Heliconia Paka
124. Heliconia Paludigena
125. Heliconia Papuana
126. Heliconia Pardoi
127. Heliconia Pastazae
128. Heliconia Peckenpaughii
129. Heliconia Pendula
130. Heliconia Penduloides
131. Heliconia Peteriana
132. Heliconia x Plagiotropa
133. Heliconia Platystachys
134. Heliconia Pogonantha
135. Heliconia Pruinosa
136. Heliconia Pseudoaemygdiana
137. Heliconia Psittacorum – Parrot Heliconia
138. Heliconia Ramonensis
139. Heliconia Rauliniana
140. Heliconia Regalis
141. Heliconia Reptans
142. Heliconia Reticulata
143. Heliconia Revoluta
144. Heliconia Rhodantha
145. Heliconia Richardiana
146. Heliconia Rigida
147. Heliconia Riopalenquensis
148. Heliconia Rivularis
149. Heliconia Robertoi
150. Heliconia Robusta
151. Heliconia Rodriguensis
152. Heliconia Rodriguezii
153. Heliconia Rostrata
154. Heliconia Samperiana
155. Heliconia Sanctae-Martae
156. Heliconia Sanctae-Theresae
157. Heliconia Santaremensis
158. Heliconia Sarapiquensis
By Dryas
159. Heliconia Scarlatina
By Dick Culbert – <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external free” href=”http://www.dixpix.ca/meso_america/Flora/heliconia/index.html”>http://www.dixpix.ca/meso_america/Flora/heliconia/index.html</a>, CC BY 2.0, Link
160. Heliconia Schiedeana
161. Heliconia Schumanniana
_(29637192780).jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_schumanniana_(Heliconiaceae)_(29637192780).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 17")
By yakovlev.alexey from Moscow, Russia
162. Heliconia Sclerotricha
163. Heliconia Secunda
164. Heliconia Sessilis
165. Heliconia Rainbow
166. Heliconia Signa-Hispanica
167. Heliconia Solomonensis
168. Heliconia Spathocircinata
169. Heliconia Spiralis
170. Heliconia Spissa
171. Heliconia Standleyi
172. Heliconia Stella-Maris
173. Heliconia Stilesii
174. Heliconia Stricta
175. Heliconia Subulata
176. Heliconia Tacarcunae
177. Heliconia Talamancana
By Kenraiz Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
178. Heliconia Tandayapensis
179. Heliconia Tenebrosa
180. Heliconia Terciopela
181. Heliconia Thomasiana
.jpg#/media/File:Heliconia_thomasiana_(14732346647).jpg "204 Amazing Heliconia Species 19")
By <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external text” href=”https://www.flickr.com/people/52346729@N04″>Alejandro Bayer Tamayo</a> from Armenia, Colombia – <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external text” href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/14732346647/”>Heliconia thomasiana</a>, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
182. Heliconia Timothei
183. Heliconia Titanum
184. Heliconia Tortuosa
185. Heliconia Trichocarpa
186. Heliconia Tridentata
187. Heliconia Triflora
188. Heliconia Umbrophila
189. Heliconia Uxpanapensis
190. Heliconia Vaginalis
191. Heliconia Vellerigera
192. Heliconia Velutina
193. Heliconia Venusta
194. Heliconia Villosa
195. Heliconia Virginalis
196. Heliconia Wagneriana
197. Heliconia Willisiana
198. Heliconia Wilsonii
199. Heliconia Xanthovillosa
200. Heliconia Zebrina
201. Heliconia Alan Carle
202. Heliconia Pedro Ortiz
203. Heliconia Tagami
204. Heliconia Guadalupe
Cultivating Heliconia: Tips for Success
Heliconias thrive in humid, tropical climates typically found in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Whether you’re lucky enough to reside in such regions or are attempting to cultivate these beauties indoors, here are some essential guidelines:
Outdoor Cultivation:
Water: Regular watering is key to maintaining moist soil. In hot or dry conditions, consider watering twice a day to prevent the soil from drying out, but be cautious not to overwater to avoid root rot.
Light: Depending on the species, heliconias prefer either partial shade or direct sunlight. Ensure they receive adequate sunlight, avoiding mostly shaded areas.
Soil: Use well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Regularly mulch with peat moss to preserve moisture levels. Watch for the presence of spider mites if the soil or potting medium becomes too dry.
Indoor Cultivation:
While growing heliconia indoors can be challenging due to their size and need for a humid environment, the parrot heliconia (Heliconia Psittacorum) is a suitable choice for indoor cultivation. Here are some key considerations:
Placement: Position your heliconia in a sunny location or provide artificial plant lights. Ensure the plant is kept in a consistently moist environment and mist its leaves daily to maintain humidity.
Care and Maintenance:
- Pruning: Although heliconias do not require extensive pruning, removing spent inflorescences or wilted leaves can help maintain their appearance.
- Fertilization: To support their growth and vibrant colors, fertilize heliconias every three to four months using a slow-release fertilizer rich in magnesium.
- Overwintering: For those residing outside of tropical zones, plant heliconias in larger pots than their size might suggest. During summer, keep them outdoors and protect them from frost. In winter, care for them as you would indoor plants, ensuring they receive ample sunlight.
Propagation Made Easy: Rhizomes
Heliconia plants propagate effortlessly through their rhizomes. To do so:
- Dig up the plant and separate the rhizomes, cutting off portions containing “eyes” or new plant shoots, typically measuring three to four inches.
- Replant the rhizomes and provide them with the same care and attention you would give to young plants.
By following these guidelines, you can cultivate and enjoy the captivating beauty of heliconia, whether in your garden, on your patio, or even inside your home.
In Conclusion
Heliconia, with its dazzling array of species and vibrant flower bracts, has rightfully earned its place as a tropical gem. These low-maintenance plants, when cultivated with care, can transform your landscape into a lush, exotic paradise. Whether you’re drawn to the striking reds, oranges, yellows, or greens, there’s a heliconia variety to suit your aesthetic preferences. So, why not embark on your own journey with heliconia cultivation and discover the enchantment these remarkable plants bring to any environment? With the right knowledge and dedication, you can turn your surroundings into a tropical haven bursting with the splendor of heliconia blooms.
