Cold hardiness of heliconia playstachys

[clinton9]

Hi members,

I have 7 months old 120cm tall heliconia playstachys in my hothouse, it is to for planting outdoor in springtime.

My place is on latitude 37oS, in Thames, New Zealand.

At my place the average winter temperature: 8 oC and average lowest winter temperature: 3 oC, but had went below 0 oC, to -1 oC for 1-3 nights during June to July. 10 frosts a year and frost season: 10th June to 10th August. June to August are coldest wettest months, with June have 15 wet days and 3 frosts, July have 16 wet days and 4 frosts, August have 15 wet days and 2 frosts.

In native South America, heliconia playstachys grow at lowland to 2,300m, with these same plants were found growing at 2,300 meters.

[clinton9]

Will my heliconia platystachys surivie next year winter outdoor in my place ???

[Tropicgardener]

Simple answer mate............No it won't........ I did grow it in sheltered position in subtropical Brisbane but it was badly knocked back in winter. Another very tropical species.

You could however try Heliconia chartacea x Heliconia platystachys 'Temptress'.......... Being a hybrid it displays a lot more vigour and is definitely much more cold tolerant than it's parents but I still have serious doubts in your much colder climate.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Tropicgardener

[clinton9]

Tropicgardener,

OK, Did your soil where your h.platystachys grew, have good drainage ???

Poor drainage in soil and cold wet soil during winter may been more more likey to been cause of death of heliconias, than cold low temperature.

Edited March 30, 2014 by clinton9

[Tropicgardener]

No they were certainly grown in well draining soil.........Heliconia platystachys is one of those ultra tropical species. I would get it up to 2 metres high and it would be cut back in winter. It would come back again in spring but would never flower. The neighbouring H. bihai and H. bihai x caribaea hybrids would go through winter virtually unmarked.