Most psittacorums will flower in Brisbane without any problems. When I lived there I had around 20 types of psittacorums alone and up to 120 different types of Heliconias all up.

I only have a couple of psittacorum types growing now due to the fact that they take up too much precious room that could otherwise be used growing the larger species and their cultivars.

Andrew.

Many types will grow there quite well but you will get mixed results with flowering. Some will flower well one year and not the next. It is hard to decide which ones are best but as for species and cultivars that will flower very well you can't go past

Heliconia caribaea x bihai KAWAUCHI
Heliconia caribaea x bihai JACQUINII
Heliconia bihai CLAW 2
Heliconia bihai CLAW 1 (Single flush of flowers in spring, CLAW 2 is better)
Heliconia caribaea x pendula HOT RIO NIGHTS
Heliconia lingulata (Flowers year round)
Heliconia Birdiana

HANGING FLOWERS
Heliconia pendula RED WAXY
Heliconia collinsiana
Heliconia rostrata

These are all reasonably large heliconias. I don't waste my time and space with many of the smaller varieties except for Heliconia angusta and a couple of the Heliconia strictas such as JAMAICAN DWARF and DIMPLES. Many of the strictas are poor performers in the subtropics and not worth the effort.

Ian mentioned RICHMOND RED. I don't know how long he has grown it but I find that it will flower 'reasonably' well but in some years it can be poor and in my opinion (for me anyway) with a large plant like that if it isn't covered in blooms it aint worth growing so I ripped my clump out.

Andrew.

I think I know which one heliconia you are referring to. I think I remembered one of the heliconia growers talked about it on our recent trip to Darwin. Does it have red flower? Not sure of the name though.

But, Ian & Andrew are right, there are nicer variety of heliconia out there. Although, the psittacorums do look nice in flower arrangement.

Regards, Ari :)

Regards, Ari :)