Heliconia
22 June
Posted at 20:04h
in Plant of the Week
Heliconia
A genus of flowering plants in the monotypic family Heliconiaceae. There are 194 known species most of which are native to the tropical Americas, but a few are indigenous to certain islands of the western Pacific and Maluku. Many species of Heliconia are found in the tropical forests of these regions. This family of plants is classified a endangered or rare due to threats to their tropical habitat. They are used more commonly as an ornamental in landscaping. They flower with vibrant colorful bracts that bloom from the leaves in a cluster similar to bananas. We have a large collection of species within this genus here at the garden and they are quite a sight to see!