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**Heliconia
The heliconia could almost be a symbol of the Caribbean or South American tropical forest and they will grow in full sun or shade depending on the variety. The height varies as well; some are huge.
From: These extraordinary plants are native to the West Indies and South America
Planting and Care: They require lots of water and fertile soil and when they are happy they can quickly get out of control. Try to plant them in a place sheltered from strong winds as the leaves tear easily.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008, 2010 |
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Heliconia Mystery #1
Photographed: At Runaway Ghaut in Montserrat.
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Heliconia Mystery #2
Photographed: At Runaway Ghaut in Montserrat.
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Heliconia Mystery #3
Photographed: At Runaway Ghaut in Montserrat.
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Heliconia Mystery #4
Photographed: At a neighbor's home in Montserrat.
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Heliconia Mystery #4A
Photographed: At neighbor's home in Montserrat.
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Photographed: In the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia, in 2012.
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Heliconia Mysteries #5 and #6
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. |
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Heliconia Angusta 'yellow Christmas'
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010 |
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Heliconia Mystery #7
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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Heliconia Mystery #8
As you can see in the photograph of the heliconia plant on the left, not all members of this family are stellar. This plant has a pretty small and unassuming flower next to the huge leaves of the main plant. Choose your heliconias wisely.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. |
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| Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. |
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Lobster Claw, Parrot's beak Heliconia Rostrata
As you can see in the photograph below this is one of the more beautiful and striking heliconias.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: The lobster claw prefers a bright shady place in the garden, but it will adapt to more sun or less sun fairly readily. It produces a lot of leaf matter and requires routine feeding along with moist, but not wet soil.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010 |
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Heliconia Carmasita
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010 |
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Heliconia Mystery #9
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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Heliconia Mystery #10
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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**Dwarf Heliconia Heliconia angusta
Just as the name implies these are smaller versions of the exotic tropical heliconia. There are many varieties of this plant, though I'd have to say none are really spectacular, but bunched together under a tree they are quite nice.
Photographed: Under our older mango tree at our former home in Montserrat.
Planting and Growth: A semi shady spot with regular water will bring these plants to life. They will quickly spread so, beware!
Text & Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2007
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Dwarf Heliconia
Photographed: In the Royal Botanical Garden in Sydney, Australia, in 2013.
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Heliconia Mystery #11
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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Heliconia Mystery 11A
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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Heliconia Mystery #12
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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Heliconia Mystery #12A
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
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 Heliconia Mystery #12B Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. |
 Heliconia Mystery #12C
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. |
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