Heliconia Species, Expanded Lobster Claw, Golden Lobster Claw

Heliconialatispatha

Genus
Heliconia (hel-ih-KOH-nee-uh)
Species
latispatha (lat-ih-SPAY-tha)
Synonym
Bihai latispatha
Heliconia aequatoriensis
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Smooth
Velvet/Fuzzy
Height
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
Red
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Blooms all year
Other Details
Category
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Dark/Black
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Boca Raton, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Tampa, Florida(2 reports)

Venice, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Winter Haven, Florida

Yulee, Florida

Weslaco, Texas

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

3
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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G
G
New Port Richey, FL | November 2009 | positive

I grow this in New Port Richey FL (about an hour N of St. Pete). It grows vigorously and comes back from freezes easily. The blooms are p...Read More

A
Weslaco, TX | June 2006 | positive

I found mine at the Midvalley Garden Center in Weslaco, Texas where they pretty much run wild. After three years I have a nice 5' by 8' ...Read More

X
X
Sebring, FL (Zone 9b) | December 2005 | positive

Here in Sebring, FL, although officially zone 9b, I have a clump of this Heliconia about 12 feet in diameter and 8 feet tall. It is abou...Read More

T
St. John's, NL (Zone 5b) | January 2005 | neutral

Not quite as showy as some heliconias, this one is still reasonably attractive. I saw this plant growing in Waimea Botanical Garden in H...Read More

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