Heliconia caribaeaCaribbean Heliconia

The Heliconia caribaea is the largest and boldest of the commonly grown heliconias, a clumping perennial from the Lesser Antilles and Jamaica that pushes paddle-shaped banana-like leaves three to five metres into the air on upright pseudostems. Above them sit erect inflorescences of thick waxy boat-shaped bracts in red, yellow or orange.

Planted in a mass it becomes a wall of tropical foliage in two seasons, which is why resorts use it for poolside screening and instant volume.

Specifications

• Height3 to 5 metres
• Width1.5 to 3 metres per clump, spreading by rhizome
• Native toThe Caribbean, from the Lesser Antilles and Jamaica
• FoliageLarge paddle-shaped banana-like leaves on upright pseudostems; evergreen in frost-free conditions
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, rich, moisture-retentive soils that still drain freely
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate to high; regular and generous through the warm months
• ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersLarge erect inflorescences of thick waxy boat-shaped bracts in red, yellow or orange, held above the foliage
• FormDense clumping mass of upright pseudostems that closes into a solid green screen
• UsesIdeal for tropical mass planting, poolside and resort screening, and cut flower production
• SpacingPlant 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a closed mass
• Low MaintenanceCut spent stems to the ground after flowering; divide clumps when they crowd their bed
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound in a humid climate
• Wildlife AttractionThe bracts hold nectar and draw hummingbirds and other nectar feeders

Caribbean Heliconia turns an empty poolside bed into a wall of tropical foliage faster than almost anything else available.