Heliconia pendula 'Bright Red'

Hanging lobster claw (Heliconia pendula 'Bright Red') is the heliconia to plant where its flowers can be seen from below. The clump reaches about 2.5m tall and 2m across, and the flower stems hang rather than stand, dropping ropes of deep red bracts through the foliage. It grows fast and forms a dense stand within a couple of seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers that hang, not stand. The bracts drop below the leaves on long stems, which is why it reads best above a path, beside steps or on a bank.
• Height where you need it. At 2.5m it hides a fence, a pool pump or a window with foliage instead of hard structure.
• Fast and self thickening. It spreads by rhizome and fills a bed quickly, so a small planting becomes a stand in two seasons.
• Wet ground is no obstacle. It tolerates damp soil that rots most feature plants, and heat with humidity is what it prefers.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a lush 2.5m screen. It is a soft seasonal screen rather than an evergreen wall, and it wants shelter from strong wind.

Feature planting and poolside. A single clump beside a pool or a deck anchors a tropical planting, and the hanging flowers show best where the ground falls away.

Mass planting. Drifts at 1m centres will fill a damp low corner that other plants sulk in, turning a problem area into the best part of the garden.

Growing heliconia in Australia

Position and climate. Tropical and subtropical gardens. It is frost tender, so a single frost knocks it back hard. Part shade to filtered sun gives the best foliage and the cleanest leaf.

Soil. Deep, rich and moisture holding, with plenty of compost worked through. It handles wet feet in open ground, though a pot standing in water will still rot the rhizome.

Water and feed. Water often through the warm months and never let it dry out. A complete slow release fertiliser in spring and again mid summer keeps new canes coming.

Pruning. A cane flowers once, so cut it to ground level when the bracts brown off. Thin crowded canes each year and divide the clump every three to four years before the centre goes bare.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: a 180mm pot in packs of six, and a single 300mm plant. The pack of six covers roughly 5m to 6m of screen at 1m spacing, while the 300mm plant suits a single feature clump or a large pot.

Plants travel with the leaves bound in, and torn leaf edges on arrival are normal for foliage this large. Cut damaged leaves off at the base and replacements follow quickly in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95,. Expect flowering in the first or second warm season, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full heliconia range
• Tropical poolside plants that stay low maintenance
• Plants for subtropical climates
• Browse the wider tropical plant range

Common questions

How tall does it actually get?

About 2.5m in a warm garden with water and feeding, spreading to around 2m. Cooler subtropical gardens hold it closer to 2m because growth stops over winter.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. The rhizomes close the gaps within two seasons and the stand reads as continuous foliage from about waist height up.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender and belongs in tropical and subtropical gardens. A light frost burns the foliage and a hard one kills the rhizome outright.

Why are the flowers hidden in the leaves?

On this species the flower stems hang below the foliage, which is where the name comes from. Plant it above a path, on a bank or beside steps so the bracts hang into view.