Heliconia stricta Dimples

Heliconia stricta 'Dimples' (Heliconia stricta 'Dimples') is a compact heliconia with waxy red bracts finely edged in green, held upright on a clump around 1.5m tall and 1m wide. That green margin gives the flower heads more depth than a plain red form, especially at close range. It is a warm climate plant that anchors a tropical bed without taking it over.

Why you'll love it

• Red bracts edged in green. The fine margin acts as a second colour, so the heads do not disappear into the foliage behind.
• Small enough to place properly. At 1.5m by 1m it fits a courtyard, a narrow bed beside a path, or a decent pot.
• Cut flowers that last. The bracts hold a week or more in a vase, so an established clump keeps the house supplied through summer.
• It thickens rather than runs. New shoots appear steadily in warm weather, building a denser clump each season without invading the bed.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One clump at the corner of a deck or beside a pool gives a tropical planting its upright accent.

Mass planting. Set plants 60cm apart for a dense clump. Six plants at that spacing cover roughly two square metres.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider works if you keep water and food up, and it lets you move the plant under cover on a cold night.

Growing Heliconia Dimples in Australia

Position and climate. Bright filtered light, or morning sun with afternoon shade, keeps the leaves clean and green. This is a tropical and subtropical plant, and it is frost tender, so cooler gardens should treat it as a potted specimen that winters under cover.

Soil. Rich, moist and draining. Work compost or aged manure through the bed before planting and mulch 75mm deep, because the roots sit close to the surface.

Water and feed. Keep the water up through summer and never let the clump dry right out. Feed a complete fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn. Shelter from strong wind, which shreds the leaves.

Pruning. Each stem flowers once, so cut it to ground level as the bracts age. Lift and divide crowded clumps in spring every three or four years to keep the flowering heavy.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: packs of six 175mm plants, and single 300mm plants. The pack is the sensible start for a mass planting, while a 300mm plant is further along and will flower sooner.

Large soft leaves mark and tear in transit, which looks worse than it is, and fresh leaves replace them within weeks. Expect new shoots in four to six weeks and bracts in the first or second summer after planting. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the range in our heliconia collection.
• See Heliconia stricta 'Bucky' for red and yellow bracts on the same compact frame.
• Plan the bed with our guide to designing a tropical garden.
• Find companions in plants for subtropical climates.

Common questions

How is it different from other red heliconias?

Two things: the green edge on each bract, and the size. Many heliconias push past 3m; this one settles at about 1.5m and stays useful in a normal bed.

Does it need full sun?

No, and it is better without it. Bright filtered light or morning sun gives cleaner foliage, while all day sun bleaches and scorches the leaf edges.

How far apart should I plant a group?

Sixty centimetres. The clumps knit together within two seasons at that spacing and still get enough light and air between them.

What happens after a cold snap?

Growth stalls and the older leaves brown at the edges. It recovers as the soil warms, but a genuine frost will damage the crown, so cold gardens need it potted and sheltered.