Types of Heliconia – Caribbean, Parrot, or Hanging

Types of Heliconia – Caribbean, Parrot, or Hanging guide illustration

Choose a Caribbean giant, a parrot heliconia, or a hanging lobster claw first.

Types of Heliconia care summary diagram

Choose a Caribbean giant, a parrot heliconia, or a hanging lobster claw first

FactorRecommendedAvoid
Giant upright clumpCaribbean heliconia — 10 to 15 feet, red bracts on older stemsDo not buy parrot heliconia if you wanted a 12-foot screen
Compact massParrot heliconia — about 5 feet, erect parrot-colored bractsDo not treat it as a canna because a tag says Japanese canna
Hanging bractsHanging lobster claw — pendant scarlet-and-yellow clawsDo not buy it as bird of paradise, and do not expect those bracts to stand upright

Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of heliconia that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.

2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.

The first choice is the size and the bract habit you want. Caribbean heliconia stands tall. Parrot heliconia stays compact. Hanging lobster claw drops a string of claws. If the tag only says Heliconia, look at whether the bracts stand or hang, then pick that kind. [1] [2]

Which heliconia should I buy?

Buy Caribbean heliconia for a giant upright clump, parrot heliconia for a compact mass, or hanging lobster claw for pendant bracts.

Is hanging lobster claw a hanging plant?

The bracts hang. The plant itself is a clump of upright stems. Caribbean and parrot kinds hold their bracts upright.

Browse by kind

Match the height and the bract habit, then pick that kind. A parrot mass will not fill a 12-foot screen, and a Caribbean giant will not stay at 4 feet. Care for the plant you already have on How to Grow Heliconia. [3] [4]

Caribbean heliconia

Caribbean heliconia is the tall upright clump, often 10 to 15 feet, with deep red bracts on stems that are about two years old. Buy this group for height, not for a compact parrot mass. It is Heliconia caribaea, not bird of paradise.

Parrot heliconia

parrot heliconia is the compact mass, usually to about 5 feet, with erect parrot-colored bracts. Tags may say parakeet flower or Japanese canna — check the Latin. Buy it for a shorter bed or a large pot, not for a 12-foot screen. It is Heliconia psittacorum.

Hanging lobster claw

hanging lobster claw is the plant with pendant scarlet-and-yellow bracts that hang like a string of claws. Tags may say false bird of paradise. Buy it for hanging bracts, not for an upright Caribbean giant. It is Heliconia rostrata.

If you wanted hanging claws, buy hanging lobster claw — Caribbean heliconia holds its bracts upright on a tall clump.

FAQ

Is hanging lobster claw the same as bird of paradise?

No. Hanging lobster claw is Heliconia rostrata. Bird of paradise is Strelitzia. False bird of paradise is a shop name for heliconia.

Is parrot heliconia a canna?

No. Parrot heliconia is Heliconia psittacorum. Canna is a different plant. Some tags say Japanese canna — read the Latin.

Is wild plantain a weed?

Wild plantain is a common name for Caribbean heliconia. It is not the lawn weed called plantain.

References

  1. [1] UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/heliconia/
  2. [2] UF/IFAS Extension - https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP249
  3. [3] University of Wisconsin Horticulture - https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/heliconias/
  4. [4] National Tropical Botanical Garden - https://ntbg.org/database/plants/detail/heliconia-rostrata

This note is part of Heliconia Guides.

More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.