Top 10 Must-Have Tropical Plants for Queensland Gardens
Heliconia caribaea 'Purpurea'
Description:
Heliconia caribaea 'Purpurea' is a bold and striking tropical plant known for its vibrant bracts and dramatic purple-red coloration. This evergreen perennial adds an exotic flair to landscapes, thriving in warm, humid environments. Its tall stature and architectural presence make it a standout feature in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Flowers:
The inflorescence consists of upright, brightly colored bracts in purple-red hues, encasing small, tubular flowers. These flowers attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden. The bracts are long-lasting, maintaining their vibrant color for weeks.
Foliage:
The plant features large, paddle-shaped leaves with a glossy green surface. The lush, tropical foliage grows in dense clumps, providing an elegant contrast to the vibrant bracts.
Form and Size:
'Purpurea' has an upright, clumping growth habit and typically reaches a height of 2.5 to 3.5 meters, with a spread of 1.5 to 2 meters. Its tall, statuesque form makes it a dramatic focal point in any landscape.
Growing Conditions:
This heliconia thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers rich, well-draining soil with high organic content. Regular watering is essential to keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging. High humidity and warm temperatures are vital for its growth, making it ideal for tropical and subtropical climates.
Uses:
'Purpurea' is perfect as a feature plant in tropical gardens, as a screen or backdrop in large mixed borders, or as a dramatic statement in public and private landscapes. Its vibrant bracts are also highly prized for floral arrangements due to their long-lasting beauty.
Maintenance:
This heliconia is relatively low-maintenance. It requires regular watering and feeding with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. Remove spent flowers and damaged leaves to maintain its tidy appearance. Frost protection is necessary in cooler climates to ensure healthy growth.
Notes:
Heliconia caribaea 'Purpurea' is valued for its vibrant bracts and impressive height. It thrives in warm, tropical environments and requires protection from frost in cooler regions. Its bold presence adds drama and elegance to any garden setting.
Companion Plants:
Pairs beautifully with other tropical plants such as Cordyline, Alpinia (Ginger), and Calathea. It also complements ferns, Philodendrons, and ground covers like Liriope, creating a lush, layered effect in the landscape.
Common Name: Purpurea Heliconia
Botanical Name: Heliconia caribaea 'Purpurea'
Family: Heliconiaceae
Origin: Central and South America
As we cannot guarantee stock all year around on Pots & Plants please hit us up via the chat button and we can get back to you with availability
Quantity:
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Delivery Options
- We Offer a local Sunshine Coast delivery service in our Truck.
- Orders placed before Tuesday 9.00am will be Delivered on Wednesday and or Friday of that week on the Sunshine Coast.
- For more information on Deliveries outside the Sunshine Coast please click here
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-store however we can either order it in or deliver it to your door. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into store soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
- the above information is exactly the same for Pots. they come and go all year around so please send us a message via the chat button and we will get back to you with availability
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
- Visit us instore and get the right advice the first time to make your plants succeed
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use Rocky Point potting mixes to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use Rocky Point garden soil around your plants at the time of planting