Heliconia rostrata, also commonly called the Hanging Lobster Claw is the regarded as the most beautiful and it is also the most popular species of heliconia grown in home gardens here. "Rostata is a Latin adjective for beaked, curved or hooked and this refers to its likeness to a parrot's beak.
In my previous post about Heliconia chartacea "Sexy Pink Lady", many people mentioned about the beautiful red heliconia. Perhaps they are mentioning this one.
The above is a picture of the Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pavon "Ten Day" exhibited at Floria 2010.
A budding Heliconia rostrata inflorescence in my sister's garden.
Scientific name: Heliconia rostrata
Scientific name: Heliconia rostrata
Common name: Hanging Lobster Claw
Family: Heliconiaceae
Order: Zingiberale
Origin: Peru and Ecuador
Category: Tropical perennial herb
This species can be grown on the ground and in large flower pots. The inflorescences are pendulous, with the bracts coloured bright red and yellow at the sides. Notice that their leaves look like banana leaves.
A clump of Heliconia rostrata Ruiz & Pavon "Ten Day" exhibit at Floria 2010.
H. rostrata is a medium sized plant that can grow to a height of between 2-2.5 m tall.
“Heliconia rostrata The Hanging Lobster Claw”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on November 12th, 2010.
This clump is located at the landscaped walkway leading to the Putrajaya Shangri-la Hotel.
The inflorescences are elegant and spectacular and they last a long time. Notice that H. rostrata and H. chartacea has inflorescences that droops like a pendant. In my previous post on H. episcopalis "Arrow Red Orange Spears", the blooms are erect and pointing up.
They are also excellent as cut flowers. Andrea in This Lifetime is posting H. psittacorum spp today. In her post titled, "Drooping Beauties" and you can view a picture of H.rostrata used very creatively in a buffet table centrepiece.
Now that you have seen both H. chartacea "Sexy Pink Lady" and H. rostrata, which do you think is more beautiful?
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all ?????
This is my entry for Fertilizer Friday, the link is here.