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Conservatory Greenhouse

Heliconia rostrata

false bird of paradise

A very large, evergreen perennial with banana-like leaves up to 2m long. In spring and summer it produces hanging inflorescences made up of bright red bracts, each tipped with yellow and green, with yellowish-white flowers

Other common names

hanging lobster claw

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1A

Botanical details

Family: Heliconiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Heliconia are a genus of herbaceous plants varying in height from 0.5m up to 4.5m. Leaves are long and form in clumps with age. Flowers are produced on drooping panicles and are made up of bright-coloured waxy bracts. Flower colour is varied, ranging from reds and oranges to yellows and greens.
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a neutral, 50:50 mixture of peat substitute and coarse sand or grit, in bright, filtered light

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in heat in spring, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut out faded flower stems and damaged or dying leaves

Pests

Susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and snails

Diseases

Phytophthora root rot and pythium stem rot may be a problem

Get involved

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