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  • Home
  • Floral Design Shows
    • 2019 Floral Show >
      • Barb Nettleton Candid Shots
    • 2012 - 2016 Floral Shows
    • 2018 Floral Show
    • 2017 Floral Show
  • Community Projects
    • Clean/Paint out Graffiti >
      • Wipe Out Graffiti >
        • What You Can Do
        • Project Background
        • Donate
    • Juanita Reed Monument Dedication
    • International Plaza Dedication >
      • Traditional Flower Arranging
      • Unusual Flowers (Cathy Sheehan)
      • Ajijic Bench Dedication
      • Floral Design >
        • Floral Knife & Techniques (Cathy)
        • Leaf Braiding: Gayle's Class
        • Synergistic Design & Asymetric Triangles
        • Underwater Design
        • Leaf Manipulation
        • Orchids >
          • Orchid Handouts (Orchid Club)
        • Succulents
        • Floral Arranging Tips
        • Jack Richards Workshop
        • Herbs
        • Plants from Our Gardens
    • The Juanita Reed Boat Memorial
  • Learning
    • Orchids (Karen Lingo)
    • Wearable Flowers
    • Cold Glue & Composite Flowers Workshop
    • Unusual Orchids
    • 23 Common Plants Poisonous to Pets
    • Plants to Repel Bugs
    • Garden Pests & Treatment
    • Lakeside Nurseries
    • Hydroponics
    • Art in the Garden
    • Hummingbirds and Butterflies
    • Spanish for the Garden

Plants from Our Gardens

Members Area

October 2015 Meeting: Heliconia by Sharon Smith

Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of flowering plants in the Heliconiaceae.  Most of the species are native to the tropical Americas.  Common names for the genus include lobster-claws, wild plantains or false bird-of-paradise. The last term refers to their close similarity to the bird-of-paradise flowers (Strelitzia). Collectively, these plants are also simply referred to as heliconias.  As cut flowers, they can last approximately 2 weeks.

These herbaceous plants range from 0.5 to nearly 4.5 meters (1.5–15 feet) tall depending on the species.  The simple leaves of these plants are 15–300 cm (6 in-10 ft).  The growth habit of heliconias is similar to Canna, Strelitzia, and bananas, to which they are related. Heliconias multiply quickly.

Heliconias are grown for the florist's trade and as landscape plants. These plants do not grow well in cold, dry conditions. They are very drought intolerant, but can endure some soil flooding. Heliconias need an abundance of water, sunlight, and soils that are rich in humus in order to grow well.

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Heliconia latispatha