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

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Watching Flower Growth : Rostrata - 29/10/08 - Updated 25/12/08


25th December 2008

18 bracts visible, 14 opened












24th December 2008

16 bracts, 14 opened...













22nd December 2008

16 bracts visible, 13 opened...














16th December 2008

16 bracts visible, 12 opened













15th December 2008

15 bracts of which 12 are opened













12th December 2008















11th December 2008

14 bracts visible, of which 12 are opened














9th December 2008

14 bracts visible, of which 11 are opened













8th December 2008

14 bracts visible with 9 opened bracts













3rd December 2008

13 bracts are now visible with 8 opened bracts...













1st December 2008

12 bracts are now visible with 7 opened bracts...













30th November 2008

11 bracts are now visible with 7 opened bracts...













29th November 2008

11 bracts are now visible with 6 opened bracts...














27th November 2008

11 bracts are now visible with 5 opened bracts...













24th November 2008

10 bracts are visible with 4 opened bracts.
You can also clearly see the perianth on the 2nd topmost bract.












23rd November 2008

9 bracts visible, of which 4 are opened...













22nd November 2008

9 bracts visible, of which 3 are opened...













20th November 2008

8 bracts now visible, of which 3 are opened.
Did you notice the flying ants on the topmost, 3rd and 4th bracts.











19th November 2008

8 bracts , 2 opened...














18th November 2008

Topmost bract is now almost vertical whilst the 2nd opened bract is almost horizontal. Notice also that the rest of the inflorescence containing 6 unopened bracts is now hanging down vertically.











17th November 2008

2 red bracts are now opened...













16th November 2008, Noon

Notice the 2 bees at the proximal of the bracts













16th November 2008

7 bracts now visible and 2nd topmost bract starting to open...













15th November 2008

Topmost bract has opened













14th November 2008

6 bracts clearly visible and notice that the topmost bract is starting to open.












13th November 2008

6 unopened bracts visible...













12th November 2008

6 unopened bracts are now visible.
Notice the ant on the middle of the inflorescence.












11th November 2008

5 unopened bracts clearly visible.













10th November 2008

5 unopened bracts now visible













9th November 2008

Frontal view, 5 bracts now visible.













9th November 2008

Did you notice the ant on the inflorescence ?














8th November

Another view of the inflorescence now drooping downwards from horizontal.













8th November.

Inflorescence has now dropped below horizontal.
Notice the ant on the middle of the inflorescence













7th November

Inflorescence is now almost horizontal.














6th November 2008

Inflorescence is now upright with four bracts now visible













5th November 2008

At about 30 degrees vertical.













4th November 2008

3 bracts visible and 2nd & 3rd bracts have grown...













2nd November Noon

2 bracts visible with 3rd bract starting to grow.













1st November 2008

1 bract visible with 2nd bract starting to grow.













31st October 2008

Yes, it is definitely flowering and a bract now visible.













30th October 2008


When I got a matured Rostrata from Sally, it had 2 inflorescences. After re-potting, most of the leaves were burnt and had to be pruned off. Soon after, both the inflorescence also died.

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see the possible flowering on one of the remaining stems :-)

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