Heliconia psittacorum
Heliconia psittacorum is a compact parrot’s-beak heliconia valued for near-year-round color in warm climates. Stems carry upright, slender bracts in shades of orange, red, or yellow with small tubular flowers. It suits massing in South Florida landscapes and large containers elsewhere. Production for cut flowers in southern Florida runs late spring to fall and continues year-round under heat. Plants demand warmth, moisture, and bright light, and freeze easily.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Heliconia (false bird of paradise)
- Height × spread: 2 to 5 ft × 2 to 3 ft (0.6 to 1.5 m × 0.6 to 0.9 m)
- Bloom window: late spring to fall outdoors; year-round under heat
- Color & flower form: upright narrow bracts in orange, red, or yellow; small tubular flowers
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: 10b to 11; container elsewhere
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown, unknown, Tropical Americas
- Cut-flower notes: Common tropical cut stem; bracts are waxy and long-lasting; production runs April to November in unheated beds in South Florida
- Pet safety: unknown / not listed by ASPCA; use caution
How it differs
- Smaller and more upright than lobster-claw types.
- Shows color through much of the warm season; can produce indoors under heat.
- Bracts are narrow and slender rather than broad and pendant.
Strengths
- Compact size for massing and containers
- Long display period in heat
- Suited to tropical cut-flower use
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun to light shade with heat and humidity.
- Soil: fertile, well-drained; pH slightly acidic to neutral; mulch to keep roots cool.
- Water: keep evenly moist; do not let dry out during growth.
- Feeding: regular balanced fertilizer during warm months.
- Grooming: remove spent stems after bloom; divide rhizomes to maintain vigor.
- Overwinter: move containers to heated greenhouse or indoors before 50°F.
Watch‑outs
- Very cold sensitive; frost kills top growth
- Requires consistent moisture and feeding for best color
- Needs high light to avoid lank, floppy stems
Best uses (tags)
cutting, containers, massing, tropical borders, warm greenhouse
Provenance note
Native to the tropical Americas; widely cultivated in South Florida and greenhouse production for cut flowers.
References
- UF/IFAS EDIS – Heliconia spp. overview (FP249)
- Chicago Botanic Garden – Heliconia psittacorum ‘Lady Di’ profile
- ASHS HortScience – Heliconias: a promising new cut flower crop
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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