Heliconias don’t suffer from many problems in the garden, especially if a few basic needs are met. Then once you are successful, move on to varieties from farther afield. If you live in the subtropics or in a dry climate, start with the tried and true heliconia varieties offered by local nurseries. The thickness of Heliconia titanum‘s stem gives you an indication of its size Heliconias are thoroughly tropical, with very few species withstanding sustained temperatures below 10✬ (50✯). Correspondingly, gingers are native to the Old World there is just one genus of ginger in the Neotropics: Renealmia. Now that you know about the role of hummingbirds, which are found only in the New World, you’ll not be surprised to learn that the approximately 250 species of heliconias are native to the Americas (with the exception of six species in the South Pacific which are pollinated by bats). Humans do have a role in new forms, though: seeds of cultivated plants often produce new hybrids, thanks to hummingbirds in gardens visiting numerous species that are never near each other in nature.
Natural hybrids are rather common, thanks to incessant visits by those hummers. Hummingbirds are the only pollinators observed by scientists, though many other creatures visit the flowers. Humans have not been able to successfully hand-pollinate heliconia, so there are no artificial hybrids.
Photo scott.zonaĪstonishingly, all of the gorgeous forms of heliconia are made by nature.
Green-crowned brilliant hummingbird on Heliconia stricta.
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