Heliconia rauliniana

Heliconia rauliniana is the giant of the heliconias, a clumping tropical perennial that carries broad banana like foliage to about 5m tall and 2.5m across. Long pendent flower spikes hang below the leaves in red with green tones, and honeyeaters work them for as long as they last. It grows fast in warm weather, so a row closes into a rainforest wall within a couple of seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Scale no shrub can match. At 5m it covers a two storey blank wall or a long fence line that ordinary screening plants leave looking thin.
• Flowers that hang rather than stand. The pendent spikes drop below the foliage in red and green, and they cut well for a vase.
• Birds find it quickly. Honeyeaters feed at the bracts, so a clump brings movement into the garden as well as colour.
• It copes with wet ground. A damp low corner that rots most tropical plants suits this one, provided the site never freezes.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a lush tropical screen. The clumps spread by rhizome and close the gaps themselves, so there is nothing gained by crowding them.

Feature planting. A single clump against a rendered wall or beside a pool carries the whole space. Allow the full 2.5m of width and keep it off corners where leaves will shred.

Mass planting. On a larger block a drift at 1.5m centres reads as a stand of forest rather than a garden bed.

Growing Heliconia rauliniana in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade in tropical and subtropical gardens. It is frost tender, so cool temperate, Mediterranean and frost prone inland districts are out. Heat and humidity suit it, but the large leaves tear in exposed wind, so choose a sheltered aspect.

Soil. Rich, deep and moisture holding. Dig plenty of compost or aged manure through the bed before planting.

Water and feed. Keep the water up through the growing season, particularly the first summer. Feed a complete fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer, and top up with compost. Underfed clumps make small leaves and few flowers.

Pruning. Cut each cane to ground level once it has flowered, because it will not flower a second time. Clear old and damaged growth in early spring to let light into the crown.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes. The 175mm plants come in packs of six and are the value choice for a long screen, a season behind the bigger stock but quick to catch up. The 300mm and 400mm pots arrive with established canes and real height on day one.

Some leaf tearing and a limp look after transit is normal for soft tropical foliage, and it recovers within a fortnight. In a warm summer expect new canes within six to eight weeks. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare varieties in the full heliconia collection
• Designing a tropical garden that looks lush year round
• Browse companions in the tropical plant range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Space plants 1.5m apart. The rhizomes spread outwards and knit the row together, so tighter planting only makes the clumps compete for food and water.

Will it survive frost?

No. It belongs in tropical and subtropical gardens. Light frost burns the foliage and a hard frost kills the rhizome, so cooler districts should choose a hardier plant.

Why has my clump stopped flowering?

Usually hunger or too many old canes. Cut spent canes to the ground, feed in early spring and again in mid summer, and keep the water up through the warm months.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Only for a year or two. A plant this size exhausts a container quickly, stays well short of 5m and flowers poorly.