Heliconia angusta Christmas Holiday, Heliconia vaginalis

Heliconia angusta, Christmas Holiday is a small shrub that typically grows 2 to 5 feet tall, although it can grow taller. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate some semi-shade. To achieve optimal growth, the soil should be rich, wet, and well-drained, with regular watering. This variety is commonly called the Christmas heliconia because its red and white inflorescences emerging during the winter Holiday season, although the plant will bloom throughout the rest of the year as well. It typically produces off-white or white flowers, often with red and crimson upper petals and vinous lower petals.

Christmas Holiday is relatively cold hardy, at least to 30 degrees Fahrenheit for a short exposure. It can also be grown in containers in cold regions, as long as those containers are brought inside during the winter months.

In areas where it can be grown outdoors in a garden, Christmas Holiday is best grown in USDA Zones 9-11. When grown outdoors in these climates, the plant will benefit from fertilizer and compost topdressing, as well as regular pruning to keep it within its desired size.

Overall, Christmas Holiday is a beautiful, cold hardy tropical shrub that can bring a lot of cheer to any garden or landscaping setting. With proper care, it can produce a stunning array of flowers with its signature red, white, and vinous color palette. With its low-maintenance growing requirements, it is a joy to share with family and friends.

Wild populations, which are native to southeastern Brazil, are classified as vulnerable.

Similar plants:

• Heliconia angusta (Christmas Heliconia)
• Heliconia aurantiaca (Golden Dwarf Heliconia, Yellow Heliconia)
• Heliconia bihai, Bihai bihai, Heliconia humilis (Macaw Flower)
• Heliconia caribaea (Lobster Claw, Parrot Beak)
• Heliconia collinsiana, Bihai collinsiana (Hanging Heliconia, Platanillo)
• Heliconia hirsuta (Heliconia Costa Flores)
• Heliconia latispatha (Expanded Lobsterclaw)
• Heliconia orthotricha (Heliconia, Lobster claw)
• Heliconia psittacorum, Bihai psittacorum (Parrot's heliconia, Heliconia, Parakeet Flower)
• Heliconia rostrata, Bihai rostrata (Lobster Claw, Parrot's beak)