Golden Torch Heliconia

Golden Torch Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum x spathocircinata 'Golden Torch') carries upright golden orange bracts above glossy paddle leaves for most of the warm season. The clump reaches about 1.8m tall and 1.5m across and thickens steadily by rhizome, so one planting becomes a lush stand without much help. Few plants bring tropical colour to a warm garden this fast.

Why you'll love it

• Long flowering colour. The upright yellow to orange bracts hold for weeks on the plant and last well again as a cut stem indoors.
• It fills space quickly. A fast grower that spreads by rhizome, so a small planting reads as an established clump inside two seasons.
• Tolerant of wet ground. Unusually for a feature plant it copes with soil that stays damp, which suits low spots and pond edges.
• Heat and humidity are no problem. A coastal summer in the far north is exactly what it is built for, and birds work the bracts for nectar.

Where it works best

Screening and mass planting. Plant 1m apart for a lush mass planting. At that spacing the clumps merge into a soft green screen around 1.8m high, enough to hide a fence line, a bin bay or an air conditioning unit.

Poolside, feature planting and pots. The leaves are broad and clean and it drops little compared with palms, so it works close to paving. In a pot at least 500mm wide with rich mix and constant moisture, divide the clump every two to three years.

Growing Golden Torch Heliconia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with the best bract colour where it gets morning sun. This is a tropical and subtropical plant only. It is frost tender, so in temperate and cool southern gardens grow it in a container that can move under cover.

Soil. Rich, organic and moisture retentive. Dig compost and aged manure through the bed before planting, then mulch heavily to keep the rhizomes cool.

Water and feed. It is thirsty. Water deeply two or three times a week through summer and never let a new clump dry out. Feed with a complete fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer to keep the bracts coming.

Pruning. Cut spent stems back to ground level once the bracts brown off, because each stem flowers only once. Tidy wind damaged leaves in early spring and the clump refreshes itself.

What to expect when it arrives

Plants are grown in 180mm and 200mm pots, both sold in packs of 6, and in single 300mm pots. The pack sizes are the value option for a run along a fence; the 300mm plants are larger and flower sooner.

Heliconias travel with their leaves tied and often arrive with some torn or creased foliage. That is cosmetic rather than damage, and the next flush is clean. Plant straight away, water in well, and expect the first bracts within one warm season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, a minimum order of $300 before delivery and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full heliconia range
• How to design a tropical garden that stays lush
• Compare plants for poolside gardens

Common questions

Will it take over the garden?

It spreads by rhizome rather than running long distances, so it thickens into a clump instead of appearing across the yard. Slice around the edge with a spade once a year, or plant it inside a bed with a hard edge.

Can I grow it in Sydney, Perth or Melbourne?

Only with shelter. It is frost tender and wants tropical or subtropical conditions, so in cooler southern gardens it needs a warm protected courtyard or a pot that moves under cover for winter.

Why is my plant not flowering?

Usually too much shade, too little water, or a clump that is still building. Give it at least half a day of sun, keep the soil damp through summer, and feed twice a year.