False Bird of Paradise? Mine looks just like the one in the photo. Of course mine could be mislabled(G).

Lisa

Heliconia psittacorum Andromeda

Thanks!

This is probably the nicest looking plant i have bought all year. It was so root bound that I split it into 2 plants...one I planted and is doing great and the other I am still considering where to put it. I love it. To me, it is so much nicer looking than the couple of gingers I have. Does anyone know how long it blooms and how fast it grows? Someone mention that both gingers and heliconias can be clumpers or running types like bamboo. Any one know where I can find out more about this?

TIA

That's correct. Many heliconias can be invasive. The psittacorums are in that group. Left unchecked, your H. psittacorum Andromeda will take over!

With regard to blooms ... Once a heliconia plant has completed blooming the plant will die. However, the next generation will most likely have started to grow at, or near, the base of the plant. That "at or near" part defines whether the plant is a runner or a clumper. Clumpers send up the new plant very near the mother plant. The new plant on a runner can be several feet away from the mother plant.

Some heliconias have blooming "seasons". Others, like your psittacorum, bloom throughout the year. As soon as a plant is mature, it will bloom. So a large container or stand of psittacorums will appear to be in bloom year 'round, even though there are actually different plants blooming throughout the year.

Hope this helps.

-Ray

Thanks Gwenn and Ray, you both are the resident experts! Thank you so much. I think I collected my first seed today...a hard black lump left after the flower fell off?

The "fruit" is typically bright blue/purple once it's ripe. Inside that, you'll find anywhere from 2-5 extremely hard seeds. Clean all the "flesh" off of the seeds, plant them about 1/8" deep, keep warm and humid for 1-12 months (yup!) and you might be rewarded with seedlings.

-Ray