Heliconia strica 'Royal Tagami'

Heliconia 'Royal Tagami' (Heliconia stricta) is the tropical clump that gives a garden height, structure and flowers at once. It grows to about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, with paddle shaped banana like leaves and upright red bracts tipped in yellow held clear of the foliage. It is a taller selection than the dwarf heliconias, which makes it useful as a screen rather than only a feature.

Why you'll love it

• Height fast. In warm, humid conditions it grows quickly, and a young plant makes a real clump within a season or two.
• Flowers that last. The upright red and yellow bracts hold their colour for weeks on the plant and cut well for a vase.
• Tropical screening. At 2.5m it blocks a view at fence line without the bulk or the roots of a shrub.
• Birds work the flowers. Nectar in the bracts brings honeyeaters through regularly.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart for a dense tropical screen. The clumps spread by rhizome and close the gaps between plants within two seasons.

Mass planting. The same 1m spacing across a bed gives the layered look a tropical garden depends on, especially in front of a fence or a blank wall.

Feature planting. A single clump beside a pool or a deck reads as a statement, with foliage that moves in the slightest breeze.

Growing heliconia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade in tropical and subtropical gardens. It is frost tender and will not survive a cold winter, so gardeners further south should grow it in a large pot that can move under cover, or choose a hardier tropical.

Soil. Rich, moist, well drained soil with plenty of compost. Heliconias are hungry feeders and reward soil preparation more than almost anything else in a tropical bed. Mulch heavily.

Water and feed. Keep the soil consistently moist through the warm months, since this is not a plant to grow dry. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a complete fertiliser, easing off over winter.

Pruning. Cut each stem to the ground once it has finished flowering, as it will not flower again. Remove damaged foliage after storms and thin crowded clumps every few years.

What to expect when it arrives

Royal Tagami is sold in 300mm pots, which is an established plant with several stems rather than a division just struck. It goes straight into a prepared bed or a large container, and in warm weather it moves quickly once the roots take hold.

Big soft leaves tear easily, so some splitting or edge damage after transit is normal and grows out with the next flush. Plant it out promptly and water it in well. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full heliconia range
• Designing a tropical garden that lasts
• Compare other tropical plants
• Tropical plants that handle wind and heat

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart. The clumps spread sideways by rhizome, so at that spacing the screen closes within about two seasons in a warm garden.

Will it grow outside the tropics?

In the ground, tropical and subtropical gardens only. It is frost tender, so in warm temperate areas it needs a protected microclimate or a pot that can shelter over winter.

Why has my clump stopped flowering?

Usually old stems that have already flowered, or a crowded clump. Cut spent stems to the ground, thin the clump every few years, and keep the feeding and water up through summer.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a pot 500mm or wider with rich mix and reliable water. Expect a smaller clump than in the ground, around 1.5m to 2m, and divide it every couple of years.