Flower of the Day: Heliconia

Common name: lobster claw, wild plantain, or false bird of paradise
Botanical name: Heliconia elongata

What they look like:      Its leaves look very much like the ones of the Banana plant. Its flowers which actually are bracts come in various colors like yellow, pink, red or a variation of these colors. The red and yellow ones are called Heliconia rostrata, and as the name suggests their flowers look like the claws of a lobster. Heliconias can grow anywhere between 2ft and 20ft. On rare occasions sizes larger than that have been seen which is something to bear in mind when deciding to obtain some for your garden.

Heliconias are fast growing plants and need lots of space to thrive.

Colors it comes in: There are no blue Heliconias! it comes in pink, red, orange, yellow, bicolor

Season available:  all 12 months

 Where it grows: Heliconias are found throughout the Neotropics and are actually quite common in the rainforest. They are also often found as ornamental plants in gardens and landscaped areas.
 Type of flower form: line, triangle
How is it sold:5-stem bunch for smaller flower; 1 stem for larger ones

 Retail Price: really expensive
Vase life: 7-21 days
Special care: temperature sensitive. Store at 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Meaning: Great returns
Interesting fact:Tiny aquatic organisms sometimes live in the water that collects in heliconia stems.

Usually seen in a whimsical type of design.

These are Heliconias.

For the first time

This is the first time ever writing on this blog.