It appears I am not getting all emails sent threw garden web again. If expressed interest and have not heard back from me please post here.

H. rostrata blooms on previous years growth (usually). If the stalk survived the winter, even if young, it will probably bloom. In Central Fl that is the issue with our cold snaps. Prior to 2008, mine bloomed reliably near a Tabebuia where it was protected, but the winters since then have been too cold. They grow beautifully. I am hopeful this year's crop will bloom as the stalks are well over 6' tall. They LOVE fertilizer! I mean love it! High nitrogen and lots of it.

I can trade you some Rostrata if you have something to trade. I also live in FL and I only trade with other Floridians due to the Ag laws.

That glaucus sheath makes me think that its not Rostrata. I haven't ever observed that on any of mine. The only heliconia I have ever seen it on was one of those weird ones I had that died...one of the "Moon" series (Full Moon, Rising Moon etc)...I couldn't spell the name then and can't now...amegdyliana or something close to that. There are not a whole lot of heliconias that have any sort of glaucus coloration. Most if they are not all green have reddish/maroon sheaths. The stalks should be all green, perhaps with some red markings (this varies widely). The other weird thing is the way the new leaves are coming out of the stalk. The way they are so tightly curled and pointing over and down says "banana" to me. I guess you have to just wait and see.