Heliconia Rostrata Hanging Lobster Claw

About the Heliconia Rostrata Hanging Lobster Claw

Heliconia rostrata is the iconic hanging heliconia: long, pendulous chains of scarlet 'claws' tipped in yellow and edged with green, dangling from among banana-like leaves. A single inflorescence can stay vivid for weeks on the plant and lasts well in a vase, and hummingbirds visit the small flowers tucked inside. It is one of the most adaptable heliconias, flowering mostly from spring through the rainy season and coping with the Yucatán's dry season if watered. Choose a rhizome, a potted young plant or a flowering-size clump.

How to Care for It

To plant a rhizome, lay it horizontally 5–10 cm deep in rich, well-drained soil with any shoot pointing up, water well and keep the soil just moist until new growth appears. Give it sun to partial shade and generous water, especially in the dry season. Feed monthly in the rainy season with a balanced fertiliser, mulch generously and cut each stem at the base after its flowers fade.

Nothing says tropical like a heliconia in flower. Choose from the ten most popular varieties, including hanging lobster claw, Lady Di, Golden Torch, wagneriana and Sexy Pink. Start from a rhizome, or buy a potted young plant or a flowering-size clump.

Growing Profile

Botanical name

Heliconia rostrata

Family

Heliconiaceae

Native to

Western Amazon and Andean foothills: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia

Mature height

1.5–3 m

Plant spacing

2 m

Time to first flowers

1–2 years

Light

Sun to part shade

Water

High, keep moist

Cold tolerance

down to 4 °C

Best climates

Humid tropics, Dry tropics, Subtropical

Grows in a pot

Yes

Ships from

Our farms in Yucatán & Chiapas