Heliconia psittacorum ‘St Vincent Red’

Parrots beak heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum 'St Vincent Red') is the simplest way to get true tropical colour into a warm garden. It forms an upright clump about 1.8m tall and 1.5m across, sending narrow red and orange bracts well clear of the paddle shaped leaves. It spreads steadily by rhizome, so one plant becomes a stand.

Why you'll love it

• Tropical colour that holds. The red and orange bracts sit above the foliage on stiff stems and stay coloured for weeks rather than days.
• Fast to fill a bed. It grows quickly and spreads by rhizome, so a mass planting closes over in a season or two.
• Comfortable with wet feet. Damp low corners and pond edges that rot other plants suit it, which is unusual in something this showy.
• Birds work the flowers. Nectar sits deep in the bracts, and honeyeaters visit a flowering clump daily.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for a solid block of foliage and colour. At that spacing the clumps knit together within two seasons.

Poolside and screening. At 1.8m it softens a pool fence or screens a window without the leaf litter of a tree. Leaves shred in strong wind, so choose a sheltered aspect.

Pots and feature planting. A 400mm or larger pot holds a clump for several years on a warm patio, and a single clump reads well against a plain wall.

Growing heliconia in Australia

Position and climate. Tropical and subtropical gardens only. It is frost tender, so any frost will cut it back. Part shade to filtered sun gives the best leaf, and heat with humidity is exactly what it wants.

Soil. Rich and moisture retentive, with plenty of compost worked through. It tolerates wet ground better than most, though a pot standing in water will still rot the rhizome.

Water and feed. Water regularly right through the warm months and do not let it dry out in a hot spell. Feed with a complete slow release fertiliser in spring and again mid summer.

Pruning. Each stem flowers once, so cut it to ground level when the bracts finish. Remove torn leaves at the base, and lift and divide the clump every three to four years to keep it vigorous.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 180mm and 200mm pots sold in packs of six, and a single 300mm plant. The packs are for planting a whole bed in one go, while the 300mm plant is the pick for a pot or a single feature clump.

Heliconias travel with the leaves bound in, and a torn or browned leaf edge on arrival is normal. Cut damaged leaves off at the base and new ones follow within weeks. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95,. Expect flowering in the first warm season after planting, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full heliconia range
• Designing a tropical garden that stays lush
• Plants for poolside gardens
• More plants for tropical climates

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Eighty centimetres apart for a mass planting. The clumps spread by rhizome and knit into a continuous stand within two seasons at that spacing.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and belongs in tropical and subtropical gardens. Further south it can be grown in a pot and moved under cover, though it will sulk through a cold winter.

Can I use it as a screen?

Yes, to about 1.8m. It gives a soft seasonal screen rather than a solid wall, and it needs a sheltered position where wind cannot tear the foliage.

Do the bracts last as cut stems?

They do. Heliconia is a florist staple and holds in a vase for a week or more. Cut the stem low and strip the lower leaves before it goes in water.