The beauty and durability of the exotic heliconia flowers make them a favorite for tropical flower arrangements. Pronounced "hell-ee-cone-ee-uh", the name pays tribute to Mt. Heliconia, home of the nine inspirational goddess muses of the arts and sciences. Ninety-eight percent of the more than three hundred varieties are native to the American tropics. The plants can vary in size from 1-1/2 foot dwarfs to 30-foot giants.

When the heliconia was first discovered, it was thought to be part of the banana family, as its leaves and growing patterns were very similar. However, the plant did not produce any fruit, and a new family was created for them.

Heliconias are found either in an erect or pendant orientation. When erect, the flowers stand straight with the bracts, or the petal-like spikes, pointing up. The bracts of pendant heliconias hang down and point to the ground.

The rainbow of bright colors of the heliconia (red, orange, yellow, green, pink and a myriad of combinations) make it an ideal plant for landscaping. However, there are other exotic uses for the plant. The leaves can be used for roof thatching or as a food wrapper. The Brazilians believe that certain roots and seeds contain medicinal healing properties.