Heliconia pendula 'Red Waxy'

Red Waxy heliconia hangs its flowers instead of holding them up, and that one habit changes how you use it. Heliconia pendula 'Red Waxy' builds clumps to about 2.5m tall and 2m across, then drops long chains of glossy scarlet bracts down through the foliage where they catch the light. It is fast, tropical and unfussy, and honeyeaters find it within days of the first chain opening.

Why you'll love it

• Hanging chains, not spikes. The scarlet bracts trail downward in a long string rather than standing upright, which reads softer and holds for weeks.
• A screen that fills fast. New canes come from the base every warm season, so a young planting looks established by its second summer.
• Heat and humidity are the point. It thrives in the muggy conditions that stall most flowering shrubs.
• Birds work it constantly. Honeyeaters go straight to the nectar sitting in the bracts, which brings movement to the garden.

Where it works best

Mass planting and informal screening. Plant 1.5m apart. Heliconias spread by rhizome, and tighter spacing only sets the clumps competing rather than closing the gap sooner.

Raised beds and banks. Because the flowers hang below the leaves, planting above eye level puts the display where you actually see it. A retaining wall or a sloped bed does this better than flat ground.

Poolside. The large leaves shed big pieces rather than the fine debris that clogs a skimmer, and the clump takes the heat reflected off paving.

Growing Red Waxy heliconia in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to full sun, with part shade suiting hot west facing walls. This is a tropical and subtropical plant only. Gardeners from Darwin and Cairns down to northern New South Wales can plant it in the ground; further south it needs a frost free pocket or a pot that winters under cover.

Soil. Rich and moisture retentive. Dig compost through the bed before planting, then mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the canes.

Water and feed. Steady moisture is what separates a full clump from a thin one. Deep water twice a week through summer, more often in a pot, and feed with a complete fertiliser in early spring and again in midsummer.

Pruning. Each cane flowers once and then declines. Cut spent canes off at ground level to keep light in the centre of the clump, and lift and divide every three or four years if the middle thins out.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes. The 300mm is the single plant size and the usual starting point for a garden bed or a large pot. The 175mm pack of six is the value choice for a run or a mass bed, with smaller plants that catch up quickly in warm weather.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then new canes as soon as soil temperatures climb. Every plant is covered by 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 suited to poolside beds
• Compare tropical garden plants

Common questions

Will it survive frost?

No. Even light frost burns the foliage back to the ground. South of the subtropics, grow it in a large pot that can be moved under cover for winter.

How far apart should I plant it?

One and a half metres apart for a mass planting or a soft screen. The rhizomes need that room to build strong canes rather than crowded thin ones.

Why can I not see the flowers?

They hang below the foliage, so on flat ground they sit inside the clump. Plant on a bank, in a raised bed or above a path and the chains hang into view.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a container at least 500mm across with good potting mix. Pots dry out faster than beds, so water more often and keep feeding right through the growing season.