PARAKEET HELICONIA
Also Known AsENGLISH:
False Bird-of-Paradise
Parakeet Flower
Parrot’s Beak
Parrot’s Flower
Parrot's Plant
Parrot’s Plantain
Parrot's Tongue
FOREIGN:
Popokaytongo
SYNONYM:
Heliconia cannoidea
Heliconia psittacorum var. flexuosa
Heliconia psittacorum var. gracilis
Heliconia psittacorum var. rhizomatosa
Heliconia psittacorum var. robusta
Heliconia psittacorum var. spathacea
Heliconia psittacorum var. subulata
NOTE: Formerly in the Musaceae family.
False Bird-of-Paradise
Parakeet Flower
Parrot’s Beak
Parrot’s Flower
Parrot's Plant
Parrot’s Plantain
Parrot's Tongue
FOREIGN:
Popokaytongo
SYNONYM:
Heliconia cannoidea
Heliconia psittacorum var. flexuosa
Heliconia psittacorum var. gracilis
Heliconia psittacorum var. rhizomatosa
Heliconia psittacorum var. robusta
Heliconia psittacorum var. spathacea
Heliconia psittacorum var. subulata
NOTE: Formerly in the Musaceae family.
Animal Interaction
Other Uses
I planted one of these plants years ago, and now I have a large patch. I love the way that the summer flowers attract many hummingbirds. It is one of the most cold-hardy of the heliconias, and I have seen them resprout after 19F in my garden.
MEDICINAL USES: It is used for "ulcers of the scalp" in South America. [5]
CUT FLOWER: It is often used as a cut flower.
CUT FLOWER: It is often used as a cut flower.
WILDLIFE: The tubular orange flowers attract hummingbirds. "In the American Tropics, hummingbirds are the exclusive pollinators of red, yellow , pink and orange heliconias while nectar feeding bats are the pollinators of green heliconias. (Kepler, A. K. 1999. Exotic Tropicals of Hawaii.)" [6]
NATIVE TO: The Caribbean and northern South America in the Amazon rain forest. “French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.” [3] “It is reportedly naturalized in Gambia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Lesser Antilles.” [3]
DECSRIPTION: An erect perennial herb, quickly growing to three feet tall. Considered small for a heliconia. Plants die back in cooler winter areas.
- LEAVES: Pointed, long.
DECSRIPTION: An erect perennial herb, quickly growing to three feet tall. Considered small for a heliconia. Plants die back in cooler winter areas.
- LEAVES: Pointed, long.
- FLOWERS: Yellow, from within orange to pinkish-red bracts. "Its sepals are cream colored with green-black bands." [6] Blloming all year long in the warmest parts of the state.
CULTURE:
- LIGHT: This species prefers at least five hours of direct sunlight each day. [2]
- SOIL: Acid. [1] It loves rich soil. [6]
- WATER: Although somewhat drought tolerant, it prefers moist soil. [6]
- WATER: Although somewhat drought tolerant, it prefers moist soil. [6]
- PROPAGATION: Rhizome division.
- PROBLEMS: Possible Fe and Mo deficiency.
- ORNAMENTAL: Planted as an ornamental. in the warmest areas of Florida.
More Details
Flowering Calendar
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flower Color
Orange
Native?
Non-Native
Plant Form
Herbaceous Evergreen Perennial Herb
Height
3 feet
Rate of Growth
Fast
Hardiness Zone
8a to 11b
Root Hardiness
10°F
Damaging Temp.
30°F
Ease of growth
Very Easy
Light
Shade
Soil
Sandy Rich Clay
pH
6.0 - 7.0
Tolerances
Drought Tolerant
Watering
Moist
Dry
References
[1] Betrock’s Reference Guide to Florida Landscape Plants
[2] jaycjayc.com
[3] Wikipedia
[4] tropilab.com
[5] South American Medicinal Plants: Botany, Remedial Properties and General Use
[6] National Tropical Botanical Garden
[7] theplantlist.org
[4] tropilab.com
[5] South American Medicinal Plants: Botany, Remedial Properties and General Use
[6] National Tropical Botanical Garden
[7] theplantlist.org
Last Updated: October 28, 2017