Parrot's beak heliconia Heliconia psittacorum
Parrot's beak heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Heliconiaceae family, native to Lesser Antilles and northern South America to Brazil (wet savanna and forest edges). It grows 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall and 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 80 cm (31 in) apart.
Plan Parrot's beak heliconia in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Parrot's beak heliconia at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Heliconiaceae |
| Mature height | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Mature spread | 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 80 cm (31 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Lesser Antilles and northern South America to Brazil (wet savanna and forest edges) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Is Parrot's beak heliconia toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Parrot's beak heliconia
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Parrot's beak heliconia in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (6 plants)
Questions about Parrot's beak heliconia
- How far apart should I plant Parrot's beak heliconia?
- About 80 cm (31 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft).
- Does Parrot's beak heliconia need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Parrot's beak heliconia need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Parrot's beak heliconia?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Parrot's beak heliconia flower?
- From about January for 43–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Parrot's beak heliconia poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Parrot's beak heliconia?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Parrot's beak heliconia. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Upright, narrow orange-red bracts with green-tipped yellow flowers, almost all year; hummingbird-pollinated in its native range.
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Hanging lobster claw (heliconia) Heliconia rostrata
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea