Heliconia stricta (Dwarf Jamaican) - cold tolerance?

[Laisla87]

Just wondering if anyone could advise on the cold-hardiness of this type??? It is for sale in a local nursery but I've never tried it here before. Basically in my climate I can do Bihais, Caribeas, Pendulas, angustas, latispha no problem..Psittacorums are very boderline; some people have success with them here. I am 33 degrees south.

Thanks!

[mnorell]

H. stricta in variety is very chill-sensitive and detests cold, wet winter climes. When I lived in Los Angeles (I believe very similar to Sydney in temperature but significantly drier in summer) I was never able to grow 'Dwarf Jamaican' effectively and as I recall it just slowly wasted away no matter what position I attempted for it. It is generally a winter bloomer and even if you can find it a winter suntrap it would probably not be able to produce decent inflorescences and would have a poor, tattered, yellowed appearance. I believe it grows and flowers decently in Brisbane, however I also have seen it noted that this cultivar has been grown in North Rocks (north side of Sydney) but it failed to flower there and eventually declined and died out.

For smallish heliconias you may want to look into H. aurantiaca and H. hirsuta (the latter is a bit larger, along the lines of H. psittacorum, but much hardier to chill than psittacorum). These both are rather resilient and may stand a good chance in Sydney. You may also have luck with the cold-hardiest H. orthotrica cultivars, such as 'Imperial.' Ann Cains at El Arish Tropical Exotics (you should contact her as she is an extraordinarily knowledgeable Heliconia grower and has what I hear is a great nursery up there) has a listing of hardier Heliconias on her website but usually notes the northern coastal suburbs of Sydney as the southernmost outpost of even the hardiest bihai/caribaea hybrids and cultivars. H. stricta is more cold-sensitive than those two species and I believe is generally discouraged south of Brisbane. The lowland, heat-loving species of Heliconia want warmer nights in general than Sydney has to offer and often initiate their inflorescences during the winter. Even at blooming size and if they manage to survive, they may spontaneously abort after long cold seasons and you may end up with a clump of green and no inflorescences.

[sgvcns]

I agree entirely with Michael re H stricta. It may grow but is unlikely to flower. H tortuosa is a good grower but not very long lasting as a cut flower( why I dug it out and gave it away)

Added to the list of possibles would be H bourgeana which grows better south of Brisbane.

Another that has done well in Brisbane is H venusta which has a maroon reverse on the leaf( not sure if it is available in nurseries yet but growing strongly here from collected seed).

For larger plants H champneiana or schiedeana are cold hardy for something different.

Steve

[Laisla87]

Thx for the info guys. Actually I have several Bihais/Caribeas/Pendulas in the ground and they are huge and grow fine. Winter doesn't bother them but then again I am in arguably the warmest part of Sydney (inner city/ coastal on a north-eastern slope) so tropicals generally do fine here. I may give Dwarf Jamaican a go, but planting it now it wouldn't establish until Spring - a long wait.

I agree about places like North Rocks; what many people (especially those outside of Sydney) don't know is that the climate here is very variable.It's not about how north you are but how built up the suburb is/close to the coast that makes the difference. My average winter low (absolute low in the dead of winter) is 8 degrees. On the same day in a place like North Rocks (outer suburbs) they would be minus 1. Also, What people also don't realise is that it isn't Sydney's temps which limit tropicals, but more the aseasonal rain patterns (cool winter with rain is much worse than cool dry winter).