Re: Some late fall showy bloomers
Nan,
there should be many Heliconia that would thrive in San Diego
(temprature wise). From what I recall, some of the better ones were grown
in Mt. View, HI at about 2500-3000+ feet elevation. The lows get down to
the point where frost is possible (same as here in Kula). I will need to
check with my friends. However the limiting factor might be water. This
is a high rainfall area (just had some major flooding that may have made
national news). In fact Hilo, HI is the city with the most rainfall in the
USA. I haven't tried heliconia here in Kula. I want to stay away from high
water requiring plants. I also suspect other factors like microclimate
might have an effect on success (i.e. planting them next to the south west
facing wall to get more heat, etc).
H. lathispatha is a fairly tall species, prone to producing long
rhizomes (it has a habit of "running away" from the planting area). IT
also produces bracts alternating ina spiral (makes it sometimes difficult
to use in an arrangement). There was several different forms in Hawaii
that escaped cultivation that vary in the ammount of green, yellow, and
orange in the bracts. Also there are a few supposed hybrids with H.
psittacorum (i.e. Cv Parrot). I would perhaps be more inclined to try Pink
Gingers (Alpinia pupurata), but again they would need supplemental
irrigation.
>Thank you David for that wonderful listing. Most of the plants you
>mentioned are new to me so I have to go look them up. But I wonder
>if you could tell us a bit more about hardy heliconias. I didn't
>know there were hardy ones and I'd love to try some. Which genera or
>species are hardy?
>
>Nan in warm (but it does freeze in my garden) San Diego
Mach T. Fukada
AKA member 07778
fukada@aloha.net
MACh Tech,
Macintosh Computer and Agriculture/Aquaculture Consulting
Visit our friends at the Honolulu Aquarium Society
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