Heliconia caribaea
Syn. Heliconia caribaea var. luteo fusca

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FAMILY

HELICONIACEAE

ETYMOLOGY

The name Heliconia comes from the Greek, it is the mountain where the muses lived during antiquity. Caribaea indicates the provenance, the Caribbean.

In the West Indies, balisiers were planted to indicate a path (“beacon there is”).

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ORIGIN

West Indies.

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HABITAT

Humid tropical forest (altitude 50 to 500m).

DESCRIPTION

This beacon is a perennial herbaceous plant, giant, with short rhizomes, which grows spontaneously in the humid forests of the tropical mountainous zones. In good conditions it can reach 6m in height.

Its foliage resembles that of the banana tree.

It is distinguished from other balisiers by its large inflorescences , 50cm long, erect, formed of a dozen leathery and swollen bracts, of different colors depending on the cultivar.

Inside these hide small white flowers .

The colored bracts are larger towards the base, they have a very long life, both on the plant and in cut flowers.

This makes it a plant of incomparable decorative quality.

Flowering usually takes place from April to June. But under the right conditions, the plant can flower throughout the year.

Fruits appear after pollination, often by hummingbirds. They are deep blue and are eaten by birds which then disperse the seeds. There are usually two seeds per fruit and the pulp is very fine.

The most widespread cultivars in Guadeloupe are the yellow balisier (cv. gold) and the red balisier (cv. purpurea). Others and hybrids are more rarely encountered.

MULTIPLICATION 

Propagation is mainly done by division of clumps. The plant can be made up either of a mother plant that has already produced its flower stalk accompanied by one or two suckers, or of an adult stem with one or two suckers.

Take these carefully and plant them in the recommended mixture. Water well and place the pots in dim light, heat and humidity.

Sowing between 19 and 24°C from February to April in temperate zones.

CULTURE AND  MAINTENANCE

In a tank, it can quickly reach 2m in height. It is the first year that it grows the fastest, while emitting numerous suckers which give the plant an abundant appearance. It must therefore be planted in a large pot (20-35L).

Cultivation in a greenhouse or veranda by basting regularly with a temperature above 18°C. It does not like drafts or irregular watering. In the tropics, plant it in partial shade in moist, cool, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. Protect from strong winds which can damage foliage.

During active vegetation, water abundantly without ever letting the soil mixture dry out, enrich with organic liquid fertilizer every fortnight (or compost every month). Use lukewarm non-calcareous water.

In winter, drastically reduce watering to prevent the root ball from drying out completely.

The Heliconia is repotted every two years in February/March.

In tropical zone it can remain in place. We recommend  to proceed with a coppicing the 3rd year (cut back to 50cm from the ground) and to thin out after the fifth year of flowering or to uproot to replant.

Example of substrate to use: Use a mixture of equal parts crushed pine bark, coarse sand and blond peat.

Provide a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot with charcoal.

Example of substrate to use: 30% horticultural soil, 20% compost, 10% sand (0 to 4 mm), 10% perlite, 30% garden soil, charcoal.

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PARASITES AND DISEASES

Spider mites, mealybugs, snails, root rot (Phytophtora), stem rot (Phytium).

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USES
 

MEDICINAL USE

Any.

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ORNAMENTAL USE

Very nice indoor plant. Can be planted as an isolated subject or in hedges.

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OTHER USES

Cut flowers.

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ETHNOLOGY

In the West Indies, balisiers were planted to indicate a path (beacon).

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ANECDOTES

The water collected by the bracts serves as a habitat for many aquatic organisms. Frogs and small insects find shelter and humidity there. Many other animals and insects take the opportunity to drink this sweet nectar (butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.)

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SOURCES

- Illustrated flora of the phanerogams of Guadeloupe & Martinique - Jacques Fournet - Ed Gondwana, CIRAD - T1 P2020

- Heliconia an identification guide - Fred Berry and W. John Kress - Ed. Smithsonian - P68

- Plants, habitats and landscapes of the French West Indies - Claude Sastre and Anne Breuil - Parthénope collection - P168

- The great Larousse of 15,000 garden plants & flowers - Ed. Larousse - P500

- Flower crops - Guadeloupe Chamber of Agriculture - P21

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