Heliconia Flowers

Heliconia Flowers In Uk

Name : Heliconia Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Heliconia, (Heliconia augusta)
Heliconia Description

Heliconia is a genus comprising of about 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. The genus Heliconia was formerly included in the family Musaceae, but now this is the only genus under the family Heliconiaceae.

Common names include Crab Claw, Lobster claw, Parrot Flower, Wild Plantain or False Bird-Of-Paradise. The last common name refers to their close similarity to the flowers of bird-of-paradise. Heliconia is named after Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses from Greek mythology.

Heliconias are the most strikingly beautiful, waxy flowers with multi-coloured bracts and their bold colours are an important source of attraction for the forest hummingbirds which help pollinate the flowers. Highly modified leaves and bracts form the flower heads which rise from clumps of oblong banana like leaves which grow as large as 300cm. The true flowers are small and present inside the bracts.

Heliconia blossoms are produced on long flowering stems which are mostly pendulous or hanging down although they may also be erect or spiraling. The pendulous varieties are often referred to as Hanging Heliconia. Heliconias vary greatly in size and height depending on the species with some varieties as short as 2 feet tall, and others that grow to 25 feet in height.

Heliconia flowers are available in striking shades of bright orange, red, pink, yellow, green or purple. Single colours are not as common as the various combinations of these colours on the same flower.

Heliconias prefer a well-draining soil and flourish well in loamy soils rich in humus. Plant your Heliconias in a place where they can get plenty of sunlight and abundance of water, although over watering may cause root rot. Heliconias can’t tolerate temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Heliconias are available year-round and may bloom several times a year. Heliconias propagate usually by root division and may also be started from seeds.

Heliconias are great landscape plants and work equally well as cut flowers. Include them in your garden if you are a bird lover since they attract humming birds due to their nectar producing flowers.

Bird-of-Paradise or Heliconia have an exceptionally long vase life and can last for up to 3 weeks in a vase depending on variety. Heliconia are normally harvested fully mature since the flowers do not open past the stage at which they are harvested. A tip when buying Heliconia is to make sure that the blooms are open enough to suit your needs since it won’t open any further in the water, also avoid buying them too far in advance of your event.

As a cut flower, Heliconias are perfect especially for tropical-themed weddings. They also add colour and drama to everyday home and commercial designs. Their unusual shapes make Birds of Paradise ideal focal points for contemporary designs that will catch the beholders’ eye and win their hearts.

Some popular Heliconia varieties include garden species such as Heliconia augusta, Heliconia brasiliensis, Heliconia bihai, Heliconia caribaea, Heliconia psittacorum, Heliconia latispatha, Heliconia pendula, Heliconia schiediana, Heliconia rostrata, and Heliconia wagneriana.

Heliconia Meaning

The heart warming Heliconia signifies the meaning Great Returns.

Heliconia Mythology

Heliconia finds its origin from Greek mythology and is named after Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. Just like their god Apollo, the Muses remained young and beautiful forever like the long-lasting, elegant and enchanting flowers of Heliconia.