Mention the name Heliconias, the internet and nurseries on the net would show a huge variety of flowers, ranging from Heliconias to Parrot beak!. The plants bearing these flowers could actually be separated as those actually having the stunningly beautiful large bracts flowers - Heliconia spp. Then, a second group of "Parrot Heliconia" covering plants from the Heliconia Pittsacorum family. The latter being commonly seen in parks and roadsides.
‌This page I will put up pictures of the Not-so-commonly seen type of Heliconia seen in Malaysia
‌In the wild, there are about 194 variety of Heliconia plants and all found in tropical American continents plus few on the Islands in the Pacific. Most of them, the authentic plants can be considered as endangered. Since most plants by now were collected and used as ornaments. Over the years, many or almost all species were scattered into nurseries and parks  all over the world. An exotic plant that had drawn so much attention, until so many new hybrids, new species were also created.

The first section below are graphics or iconic pictures of the large bracts Heliconia plants. Getting re-acquainted with the different types.

 

Regular Upright Type

 

Pendular Type

Radiates Sideways

 

Miscellaneous Type

 

 

 At the turn of the century, started in 1998, real Heliconia plants with their brightly colored and large showy flower suddenly became the chosen plant. Demand was there.
Nursery too, importing more and more exotic species to the ever increasing numbers of growers. Plants lovers and hobbyists were having talks and comparing notes.


Then, at last after a year or two of trail and errors, certain facts become clear. Heliconia plants needs a fair amount of space by themselves. Apart from the fact that some species like the Rostrata could be tug away in small corner, most species need space. They could not be assimilated together with other garden plants. They grow in clumps like a colony. The beautiful flowers sp much admire, more plants do not bloom that often to enhance the garden looks. Some species still having its natural habits were invasive.

Quite some effort to tidy off and remove plants whose flowers had withered. Last of all, some species the hybrids particularly needs special care. More years passed, the craze for having Heliconia in garden subsided. Leaving some gardening hard cores getting accustomed to the sight of clumps in their garden

Bearing in mind that not everyone  is that familiar with the looks of Heliconia Flowers, leave alone it knowing its name.

 1. Heliconia rostrata, "Parrot’s beak".

Small sized, although can grow long, pendular Heliconia flower, very popular.  Picked with 6 to 8 bracts open, or  longer if still unmarked.

2 Heliconia rostrata - Parrot’s beak.

Some variations in bract's shape

 3 Heliconia rostrata

 "Parrot’s beak." Another picture from my collections

 4 Heliconia rostrata, - "Beefsteak"

 This is an upmarket version. I did not acquire it but made pictures

 5  Heliconia stricta, "Firebird".

After that initial introduction. The next group of flowers would be the "Firebirds". Harvested each Chinese New Year and sold as cut flowers to be displayed in the house "Up Up & Away"

 Grows up to 6-8 feet tall.

 6 Heliconia stricta, "Firebird".

This is the looks of a "Firebird" bush. Requires half shade Fair invasive with low bloom

 7 Heliconia bihai x caribaea 

This may not be the exact name for his species. Just want illustrate how tedious it is to search and myself to accept that this is the most appropriate ID for this species collected. Well, after theplant has being made an hybrid

 8 Heliconia latispatha

This medium sized flower comes in several colors – red, orange, and green and yellow.  Long lasting, and usually picked nearly fully open, but day flowers must be removed. Another fault finding reason, the bracks too narrow and not formed properly at most times. This is one species as can be seen growing alongside other plants. Can be kept!

 9 Heliconia platystachys

 The inflorescence on a robust tomentose purple and red peduncle isdrooping terminal spike. About 10-20 bracts with pointed apex and concavity facing downwards

 10 Heliconia platystachys  

Look at the size of this bush! Not in my garden but among the pictures I collected

 

 11. Heliconia koncondor

This was an odd species, I bought this as the flowers were so brilliant. Asked the nursery its name for reference and was given this name. Subsequently couldn't verify that there is such as species. The unusual finding I made after having the plant for a while! Oh! that prompted me to keep this picture for souvenir. This plant could be a species H. Pittsacorum but having the largest plant body and flowers. It was very invasive. It was so prolific and grew that fast I had to remove from the garden.

12. Heliconia chartacea, "Sexy Pink"

 Medium to large size plant with pendular flowers. This I considered to be the plant with the most elegant flowers. I love the "Sexy Pink"

 

 13 Heliconia chartacea, "Sexy Pink"

My bush from the yesteryears . Mixed cultivation.

14 Heliconia chartacea, "Sexy Pink"

Then a separate and independent clump all by itself

 15 Heliconia bihai "Nappi"

Another species that I like a lot is the "Nappi". The bush had flowers in good numbers and consistently. A productive species. The flowers itself in rainbow hue, were fairly large and showy.

 16 Heliconia bihai "Nappi"

That's me playing in the garden and having my plant as background

Finally - showing you the pride of my garden

 Heliconia spp. "Red Dragon"

 At last reaching the gist of my posting. The "Red Dragon" . Through persistency, and selection I found the plant that I like. Then through experience found that this species had all the characteristic that I could handle and also ensure its sustained care. That was 20 years ago! Today the plant is still the pride of my garden

 

18 Heliconia spp. "Red Dragon"

 The plants distanced themselves and not forming thickets clump.

 19 Heliconia spp. "Red Dragon"

This picture I want to show how tall the plants could grow

 20 Heliconia spp. "Red Dragon"

Sorry to say "this is how Heliconia plants should behave in a small private garden" 1]. Not too big a clusters, giving out plenty of flowers throughout the whole year. 2]. Easy to do maintenance in removing unwanted old plants.

One point though! I don't even know the actual name of this hybrid. Being searching and perhaps a strong reason why I gave up on this plant. The keeping track of hybrid names and its meaning. I already had a huge and comprehensive collection of books on Cactus & Succulents, I am not going to acquire more books even though that there is only one meaningful illustrative book.

So I gave up learning and keeping record of their proper names.

 

Other Heliconias that I Love once

21 Heliconia bihai x caribaea, "Kawauchi"  

Another example of a hybrid plus the name given. I have serious doubts on my plant naming capabilities, since I do not specifically dwell into the field of plant. Just a hobbyist

. 22 Heliconia bihai 

"Claw 2". I know that shade of green border varies from plant to plant.

 23 Heliconia chartacea

Here again, it is assumption that most pendulus type Heliconia get related to the species of H. chartaceac. Looking at its simple flower structure, it is unlikely that this plant this is a hybrid. That much I would venture

With so much love for having Heliconia in the garden. So much effort to hunt down the wanted species. So much time to learn about the plant. Then, the predicament of keeping them in a nice garden. I too reached the cross road. Do I still want the plants - Heliconia? Yes I do, I kept only one The Red Dragon. The process of elimination started. Painful to let the Sexy Pink goes. But just too much work and too little rewards . The Rostrata was hard to rid off. Now after years I can still spot s bud quietly slipping out onto the surface

 
 

       With  Will  Will  Wander

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