THESE BRILLIANTLY VIBRANT AND LUSH TROPICAL PLANTS BRING A WOW FACTOR TO ANY GARDEN
From their intriguing bracts to lush green foliage multiple uses, the Heliconia Purpurea is a must have plant for a thriving tropical garden. This variety features stunning red bracts with bright green shiny foliage creating a visually appealing contrast. Its vibrant colours add an instant pop to any garden or landscape, making it an excellent choice for an eye-catching centrepiece or tropical screen. These plants last for 3 to 4 years, growing to around 4m tall and they thrive in full sun or a partly shade position.
ABOUT HELICONIAS
The Heliconia Purpurea is part of a genus of tropical flowering plants with long flowering panicles, also known as lobster-claw. Flowers are tiny and found inside these bracts, which are so large and colourful that they almost hide the flowers altogether. This keeps the flower's nectar hidden, so that only specialized birds can access it.
Heliconias originate from Central and South America and from a number of southern islands in the Pacific Ocean. They were first discovered in 1786 and have become hugely popular worldwide as garden plants and landscaping ornamentals in public areas and housing estates. In most cases the plants are grown to provide colour and texture as edging features or central tropical garden features. Smaller varieties are sometimes grown in pots or among crevices of rock gardens for a calming and layered effect.
Heliconias are closely related to seven other plant families including:
- the banana family (Musaceae)
- the bird of paradise family (Strelitziaceae)
- the ginger family (Zingiberaceae)
- the Costus family (Costaceae)
- the cannas (Cannaceae)
- the marantas or prayer plants (Marantaceae)
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