Heliconias... Heliconias... Heliconias: cv Red Ginger , Zingiberaceae Alpina Purpurata

Welcome to Heliconias... Heliconias... Heliconias

This blog is all about growing Heliconias, an exotic plant not native to Malaysia. All pictures shown are digital photos of the actual species in my garden such as Rostrata, Dwarf Jamaican, Latispatha and several psittacorums such as Andromeda, Lady Di, Fuschia, Strawberry & Cream and hybrids such as Golden Torch and Alan Carle.

Heliconia are close relatives of gingers, bananas, birds-of-paradise and traveler’s palms. There are more than 200 (350 including cultivars) documented species of the single genus, with the bulk of them originating from Central and South America such as Guyana, Costa Rica, Berlize, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. You may be interested to note that about 6 species have evolved separately in the South Pacific and Indonesia, and typically have green inflorescence.The name "heliconia" actually comes from Greek mythology after the great Mount Helicon, the abode of the muses of the arts and sciences.

The beauty of the heliconia lies in the brightly coloured bracts that are mistakenly called the flowers. The actual flower is the tiny little flowers that emerge from the large showy bracts. Each stem can only flower once, after which the entire stem deteriorates, drives up and collapses. As such, it is recommended to cut at the base of 'flowered-out' stems.

BTW, this blog has been read by visitors from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Netherland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom & United States of America :-)

16th Sept 2009 : 17:30

Friday, October 3, 2008

cv Red Ginger , Zingiberaceae Alpina Purpurata

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Alpinia (al-PIN-ee-uh) (Info)
Species: purpurata (pur-pur-AH-tuh) (Info)

Synonym:Guillainia purpurata

Category:
Bulbs
Herbs

Height:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)

Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade

Danger:
N/A

Bloom Color:
Pink
Rose/Mauve
Magenta (Pink-Purple)
Red

Bloom Time:
Blooms repeatedly

Foliage:
Evergreen
Herbaceous

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Flowers are good for cutting

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)

Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)

Gingers include tall plants, short plants, plants with ornate foliage and sweet fragrance, plants for the sun and plants for the shade.

Flower colors range from soft lavender blue to bright red and orange, pink, purple, yellow, gold, white - nearly every color on the chart.

Most gingers like moist, fertile, organic soils, but a few are epiphytes.