cool heliconias and sealing wax palms

19 years ago

I have been growing tropical plants in Mandurah W.A for a year now. My favourites are Cordylines which are growing extreamly well in the full sun in a raised bed with Draceanas and various other plants and Palms. I would really like to atempt to grow some more tropical stuff such as heliconias and a sealing wax palm. Would it be possible to grow this palm in a pot and then move it into a greenhouse for winter to be sure it doesent get damaged or are they really that intolerant of cool conditions? Are there any species of Heliconia that come from cooler areas and so would perform better in a warm temperate garden? The nursery I go to gets them in occasionally but I am not sure if they all need the same conditions. Any advice on growing Heliconias and sealing wax palms outside the tropics would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (10)

CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
You could try Heliconia subulata, Heliconia schiedeana, Heliconia spissa and Heliconia angusta. These are all fairly cold tolerant and should grow for you if given care.

Lipstick or sealing wax palms can be overwintered in a warm sunroom but they never colour up as well as they do when planted outside. They are not really a tropical palm but more of an equatorial palm. They have been known to drop dead even in parts of the Queensland tropics during prolonged cold spells.

Andrew.
ari_wh
19 years ago
I know for a fact that lipstik palm doesn't survive in Brisbane (because I used to live there), so I don't think it will do very well where you are. It needs warmth, sun and a lot of water!! But, if you want to try, go ahead... although it is a bit expensive if you happen to kill it.

Regards, Ari :)
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Gary, I think zone 10 is a bit too low for them unprotected. I've read on other forums where people (Florida) take them indoors as soon as summer's over and it begins to cool. They're a swamp plant and I've seen photos of really large ones growing in ponds. I've lost 2 to dry conditions. The first one I ever bought (and didn't know anything about them) went into porous gravelly soil without enough water. Didn't last long. The second I lost was where the irrigation failed during the dry season. I've got 4 now. A small one in a pot sitting in too much shade and in a tub of water, water level half way up the pot. It's going well but not gaining much height, they prefer full sun. Still waiting for a permanent spot (when I've got time to work that out, LOL). Another one is in a swampy area that floods over during the wet season. Water level fluctuates too much and it doesn't seem to like it. Wet season the water goes up about 40 cms on the plant, and down to about 5 to 10 cms. But it's changing all the time with storms and monsoonal bursts. That doesn't seem to be ideal for it so will probably end up moving it. Two are just in the garden, both slightly lower spots where wet season the ground get pretty wet, dry season the sprinklers keep them damp. One's in good sun most of the day, the other has more morning to midday sun. This winter has been zone 12a, we had a sudden down spike in temperature earlier this month. If it went by average minimum then that's been zone 13a. And the highest minimum temp so far this winter has been 25.4C (yesterday morning). But it's dry, and no chance of rain until September, if then. Photo of the one that gets flooded.
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melmat
19 years ago
I live in Brisbane and have 2 lipstick palms,one 5 ft and the other4ft.I have both in pots and bring them inside for winter and put a beer fermenting heater around the pots.They have survived the winter so far but are looking a little stressed at the moment.If the cold westerly winds got 'em I'm sure they'd drop dead before your eyes.
CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
They will survive during winter in a warm unheated sunroom down there in Brisbane. I have done it successfully before.

Andrew.
ari_wh
19 years ago
I guess it depends on how dedicated you are. I tend to stick to the plants that grow in the climate that I am living.

Regards, Ari :)
melmat
19 years ago
Not all of us have your common sense.
Adam Harbeck
Original Author
19 years ago
Roses, anuals and conifers don't cut it for me, tropicals are ther best by far
ari_wh
19 years ago
I guess I am just lucky I live where my favourite plants grow :) :). Anyone wants to go troppo, should move to NT!!

Regards, Ari :)
Louis_VIC
19 years ago
I think I have the least common sense of all!!!
Louis :-)
Cordyline_lover
19 years ago
Why don`t you try Areca vestiaria, that has a orange trunk and suckers prefers a bit of shade, but grows well in Brisbane so should take the cooler temperatures.

cool heliconias and sealing wax palms

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cool heliconias and sealing wax palms

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