Dear Scott,
We grow heleconia's up here in the north of Qld. They thrive up here with the wet and warmth. They really are a carefree plant, just plop them in the ground, full sun, water well, you don't really have to cut the spent flowers, but they are pretty in vases anyway.
Good luck,
Cheers, Mel....

Hi.. Last few months ago.. I found intersted about Heliconia (Sharonii, Oriole Orange and Purpurea). I thought those plants/blooms are soo beautiful! I am wondering if.. I can grow them outside in the ground until before frost, I will dig them and put them in pots to bring them indoor and sitting underlight for winter time.. Have you guys tried it before?? Thank you, Kat

Hi Scott. Cut down the stems that have already flowered. Not the ones that have yet to flower. No, Heliconias are not deciduous like Cape York Lilies are. Cape York Lilies die down in winter (dry season) because they experience drier conditions during that time. Heliconias prefer some moisture all year round. Though if you live in cold winter region dont keep it to moist during winter or the Heliconia could rot. Good Luck.
Louis

Scott,
I have grown around 120 varieties of Heliconias both in the tropics and subtropics. I won't lie to you, your climate is very marginal for most species of Heliconia but you should be able to grow at the least H. subulata, H. spissa and H. schiedeana. These are very tough and cold tolerant. H. subulata in nature grows well into Argentina and I have known it to be grown in Auckland in NZ!
Best of luck to you. My advise is if you want to grow good Heliconias...Move to Queensland.
Andrew.

Scot, you could also add H. angusta to the 3 varieties Andrew has suggested.
Or you could move to Victoria and have the freedom to grow lots of different exotic flowering Ornamental Banana's; but maybe that's a topic for another day.
Louis

Hi Guys, I am another unfortunate person with a Heliconia craving in a bloody cold area. I have the same climate as coastal Sydney. I'm at the coast of Taree NSW and have below 2C-3C throughout the winter with the odd -1C. Also we have to watch our summers heatwaves with peaks of 47C (last Tuesday). Heliconias are possible, but only with a lot of effort. Protect your plant from cold wind as this can chill the stem causing the plant to die back to the ground. They may handle the air temperature, but wind chill will get them every time. Also Heliconias in our area must have excellent drainage. We are a winter rain area and this is dangerous for Heliconias. I've gone through 40 varieties to find the best ones for me. CoralCoast_Tropicals is right; H. subulata, H. spissa and H. schiedeana are the easiest. They are smaller and easier to protect from strong winds. H. subulata can take the most exposure, but H. schiedeana is supposed to be the most cold tolerant even taking light frost???(IÂve not tested this). Another excellent Heliconia and my favourite is Heliconia bourgaeana cv Hot Pink. I've had mine in the ground for 4 year. It has flowered as far south as Gosford that I know off. Also Heliconia latispatha cv. Orange gyro is pretty tough and very easy to flower. If you can handle spotty leaves then Heliconia rostrata is working out. I've talked to someone who flowered it in Ulladulla south coast NSW. It works because for us southerner it grows to only 1.5m high and so is easy to put in the right microclimate. The leaves will be spotty through the winter, but the plants flowers fairly reliably in SydneyÂs Northern Beaches. In flower it is stunning and worth the effort.

Scot what was the variety that you bought?

I got the claw 2 I think. I think its dead now. It grew well last summer but the winter killed it. And I only ever got temps down to 8C.

Hi Scott

I've got hold of Claw 2 for the first time this summer to try. I had hopes for it, but after what you said I'm not sure now. I've never had a winter that was only 8C. Claw 1 may work for you. A friend of mine has had a clump growing at Forster for the last decade or more. I canÂt keep the foliage on mine and IÂm 45 mins north at the coast too. DonÂt give up try the ones above and also Hot Rio Night should do well for you too as it is very cold hardy down to 2C protectecd from wind and is fantastic, but be warn itÂs tall 3m easy.

Rob H

I HAVE ABOUT 25-30 LOBSTER CLAW PLANTED INSIDE A LARGE ATIRUM. THEY ARE DETERIORATING AT A RAPID RATE. THE TEMP IS AT 72 DEGREES.THE LEAVES ARE TURNING YELLOW AND BROWN
AND THE STEMS ARE PULLING RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.THE CORE OF THE STEM IS BROWN. NEW GROWTH APPEARS TO BE BROWNING AS WELL.THIS SHIPMENT WAS PERHAPS STALLED AT SOME POINT IN AN OVER HEATED TRAILER. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE FATE OF THE PLANTS. THANK YOU/ AT A LOSS/ RENAY

What's your soil like, and do you fertilise? Heliconias like a very rich soil with pH a bit lower on the scale. If you have poor soil with higher pH then that could be the problem. Rostrata grow like weeds when the conditions are good. It's often recommended to keep them in pots so they're under control.