# Heliconia Growth
The name Heliconia is derived from Mt. Helikon, home of the nine muses and also from the Latin word "musa." Musa is the botanical name for banana and the foliage of Heliconia plants looks somewhat like the foliage of banana plants. There are three groups of Heliconias and plants fall into those groupings according to their type: musoid type or the banana-like type, cannoid type or canna-like type and zingiberoid type or ginger-like type.
-
Description
-
Because of the large banana-like leaves, heliconias are considered members of the banana family. Musoid-type heliconias are so-called because of the banana like leaves they have. Cannoid-type heliconias have canna-like leaves. Both the musoid- and canna-like varieties have leaves that are arranged in a spiral, unfurling like canna and banana leaves. The zingiberoid-type variety has leaves that emerge from opposite sides of the stem and are arranged on the same plane. Plant leaves are elliptical or oblong and have prominent midribs on which secondary veins are closely spaced. Heliconias have neither trunks or stems, but because leaves grow so large, plants can reach heights of 10 to 15 feet or more.
Background Information
-
Heliconias add a tropical element to landscapes where they are planted. There are over 100 species of Heliconia plants that are native to Central and South America. They are primarily native to the American tropics from the Tropic of Cancer in Central America to the Tropic of Capricorn, including the Caribbean, in South America. They grow in clumps from underground horizontal rhizomes from which concentric sheathing leaf-bases emerge, forming pseudo stems. Rhizomes are planted on their sides in the ground and stem growth is perpendicular to the rhizome.
Uses for Heliconias
-
Long-lasting heliconias make excellent cut flowers. Grown mostly because of the spectacular exotic-looking flowers, heliconia plants are also used as specimens in tropical gardens. Showy clusters of flowers emerge from stalks after the second year of growth. Scarlet or yellow bracts may measure 6 to 8 inches in length. Inflorescence (flowers) are also used as cut flowers indoors because of their long life span. Flowers grow off of the pseudo stems and after they die, new stems emerge to produce new flowers. Flowering occurs throughout the year, with some species blooming in spring and summer, while others bloom from fall through winter. Tubular flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds, and this is the main means of pollination. Small cultivars are excellent container plants for indoor areas or patio and deck use.
Culture and Care
-
Healthy heliconia plants may flower several times in a year. Heliconia are adaptable to partial shade or partial sun, meaning they can be planted in places where light is filtered. Providing soil is loose and has adequate drainage, heliconia tolerates most soil types. Because larger varieties grow rapidly in the landscape, plants should be placed at least 30 to 60 inches apart. To optimize growth and blooming, plants benefit from fertilizer treatment 3 to 4 times a year. Use an all-purpose fertilizer that is fortified with magnesium or a palm fertilizer. Removal of spent flowers stimulates new flower production. Ideal growing conditions are USDA hardiness zones 10b and 11, the warmest growing zones for which there are no long term freezing temperatures or hard freezes.
-
