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Dominica Botanic Gardens
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Selected Trees and Shrubs
Heliconia rostrata, Common name: Hanging heliconia


​Plant Family: Belongs to the Heliconiaceae or Heliconia family, which includes the Lobsterclaw Heliconia (Heliconia caribaea)and the Firebird Heliconia (H. stricta). Heliconia flowers are much loved by humming birds.

Description: Large, handsome shrub, 2-3 m tall (6-10 ft) to tips of leaves, flowering all year; rhizome creeping and branching underground; very large, oblong, attractive leaves, paddle-shaped with long leaf-stalk wrapped around stem, and leaf blades 40 cm wide (16 in) and more than 1 m long (40 in); inflorescences are terminal, 30 - 60 cm long (12 - 24 in) on unbranched shoots, large and pendulous; flowers brightly colored, red with greenish yellow edges and ends, 15-20 cm long (6-8 in), arise alternately on stem, consist of large bracts with actual flower parts inside, not unlike a banana flower in structure; fruit a blue berry.

Natural Habitat: Tropics at lower elevations, growing best in partial shade; propagated by offsets or rhizome parts, or merely replanting divided clumps.

Origin and Distribution: Native to Tropical America; discontinuously distributed in tropics and subtropics; Heliconias are particularly popular in Puerto Rico where a wealth of different cultivars have been developed. [The link will take you to page 6 (H. rostrata) of several pages of photos of exquisite Heliconia cultivars.]
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Uses: Popular ornamental in gardens and yards; inflorescence is long-lasting, up to several weeks, and is popular for home and commercial floral arrangements.

References:
G.W. Lennox and S.A. Seddon. Flowers of the Caribbean. Macmillan, London 1978
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Edward F. Gilman and Alan Meerow. Heliconia rostrata. Univ. of Florida Extension Service. Gainsville, Florida 1999
Robert A. DeFilipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998
​​Gardens Introduction

​

Preface - How it Began
Introduction to Website
A Brief History
Plan of Gardens 
Contemporary Commentary​
​Trees, Shrubs, Birds

​
​
Selected Trees and Shrubs
Medicinal Plants
​
Gardens Activities
  Florida's Fairchild Garden
Parrot/Animal Sanctuary
Birds of the Gardens
Garden Views

​
​
Three Virtual Tours
Panoramic Views Today
Early Panoramic Views
 
Hurricane David's Ravages
Future Developments
Curators/Administrators
Reports and Documents
  
Getting Involved
Related Links
Sub-sites

​

Honorees
Island Scholars
Cabinet Photos
​​Treasures of the Cathedral

​Diaspora Policy Paper
​

Visit the DAAS  Website
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Copyright © -  Davison Shillingford, Clayton Shillingford and (the late) Raglan Riviere