General Landscape Uses: Tropical and exotic gardens, pollinator gardens, screening and privacy planting, water gardens and riparian zones, container gardening

Ecological Restoration Notes: Pollinator attraction and biodiversity support, soil stabilization and erosion control, habitat restoration and shelter for wildlife, enhancing forest regeneration, carbon sequestration

Description: The ‘Lobster Claw’ Heliconia is a great choice for a shady area. It produces exotic, tropical flowers with a nice shape. It blooms in the spring and summer and the flowers are vivid red and yellow.

Dimensions: Height 5 – 6 ft.

Growth Rate: Fast

Native Range: South America

Native Habitats: Tropical rainforests, moist lowlands, riverbanks

Soils: Rich, well-draining, loamy, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5 – 7)

Nutritional Requirements: Moderate

Salt Water Tolerance: Low to moderate

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low to moderate

Drought Tolerance: Moderate

Light Requirements: Shade

Flower Color: Red and Yellow

Flower Characteristics: Hanging, pendant-shaped bracts that resemble lobster claws

Flowering Season: Spring and Summer

Fruit: Small blue berries

Wildlife and Ecology: Flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators

Horticultural Notes: Propagated by rhizome division, seed

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