Heliconia, Hanbat Arboretum

 

Heliconia

Hanbat Arboretum Tropical Garden

 

 

 

 

Heliconia, the only genus in the family Heliconiaceae,

 

is among the fastest-expanding groups of ornamental plants.

 

Fred Berry and W. John Kress, Who Published the first book

 

on the subject in 1991, estimated that there were from 200 to 250

 

named species and almost that many forms or cultivars; in the

 

relatively few years since then, numerous new forms have either been

 

discovered by plant hnters or developed in nurseries to supply an

 

apparently endless taste for novelty among collectors.

 

 

 

The Heliconia Society International, founded in 1985, now has members all over the tropical world,

 

and through cut-flowers and potted specimens the plant is becoming familiar to a much wider public.

 

Heliconia ranges in size from the small H. stricta form known ass "Dwarf Jamaican' ; through medium-sized,

 

like H. psittacorum; to giants like H. caribeae, which can reach up to 3 metres.  Growing from underground

 

rhizomes, all have erect shoots and leaves that may be vertically arranged like those of a banana,

 

horizontally like those of a singer, or obliquely like members of the genus Canna.

 

 

 

 

On many the most memorable feature, at least as far as gardeners are concered,

 

is the inflorescence, which may be erect or pendent and consists of relatively insignificant true

 

flowers and brilliantly coloured bracts.  Some, However, are grown mainly for their decorative foliage.

 

 

 

 

The most common colours are bright red or yellow, often a combination of the two,

 

but there are numerous others, ranging from pale pink to very dark wine. 

 

To make just a random selection to show the range, one might cite H. caribeae "Black Magic",

 

on which the huge bracts are a dark burgundy colour; H. caribeae "Gold", a similar variety on which

 

on which thery are bright gold; H. bihai "Arawak", mostly red with areas of yellow, pale orange,

 

 

 

 

and green; H. stricta H. orghotricha "Edge of Night" rich crimson edged with emcrald green ;

 

H. psittacorum "Suriname Sassy", a blend of pink, yellow, orange and green; and H. psittacorum

 

"Surribame Sassy", a blend of pink, yellow, orange and green,

 

and H. chartacca "Sexy pink", and pale greenish-blue.

 

 

 

 

Heliconia is mostly native to the American tropics, many of the most beautiful specimens

 

growing below 1,200 feet but others found at higher altitudes up to 6,000 feet.  They are polinated

 

exclusively by hummingbirds and though natural hybrids are relatively rare, accounding to Berry and Kress

 

they do occur, as in the popolar yellow-gold Heliconia "Golden Touch", a natural cross between

 

H. psittacorum and H. spathocirinata.  Others are appearing in gardens and nurseries where assorited

 

varieties are grown together. 

 

 

 

 

Heliconia needs rich soil, often manured, plenty of water (but good drainage), and sunlight.

 

The larger varieties need plenty of room to expand and so are best suited to larger spaces.

 

Propagation is by means o frhizomes, which spread rapidly.

 

 

 

 

* Where ; Hanbat Arboretum Tropical Garden

* When: 07, January, 2013

* How; Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1

 

 

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