The smallest Heliconia

Heliconia stricta ‘Dwarf Jamaican’ is a heliconia cultivar that does not quite fit the usual stereotypical image we have in our minds about heliconias. Unlike its usual, erect, paddle-leafed, tall-growing counterparts, Heliconia stricta ‘Dwarf Jamaican’ grows up to only 30 cm to 1m in height, according to some sources. The attainable height of heliconias can be very variable and it depends on the amount of light and the prevailing growing conditions. Mine, that is now grown inside my ginger garden, is just barely 20 cm.

The plant grows as a tight, stout clump and it can be planted in large numbers in the foreground or be used as a candidate for forming a living border in a tropical-theme garden. The lanceoate leaves of this cultivar have a wavy margin and distinctive red midrib. Depending on the light intensity, the leaves can take on different shades of green. In high light, the leaves appear to look lighter, jade-green while under darker conditions, leaves will look darker green. I prefer to grow my plants under lower light so that they take on a darker green colour as that, to me, seems like a healthier colour. I don’t like my heliconia leaves to take on sickly yellow colour or have them burnt, which happens easily if they are grown under high light conditions. 

This heliconia can be planted in full sun and up to 60% shade. Bear in mind when plants are bought from a nursery where they are grown under shade, they need to be gradually acclimatised to the higher light conditions slowly.

Like most other heliconias, I find Heliconia stricta ‘Dwarf Jamaican’ prefers to be grown in friable, fertile soil that is enriched with organic material. It will be good if there is a layer of compost around the crown of the plant. Feed generously with organic fertiliser to encourage lush, vigorous growth. The roots should be kept moist at all times as droughty conditions can stunt growth and plants that are grown under high light conditions are highly susceptible to leaf burn during the hot and dry season.

Heliconias are mainly grown for their flashy and flamboyant inflorescences. The flowers of Heliconia stricta ‘Dwarf Jamaican’, like the plant, is like a ‘shrunken’ version of its larger counterparts. The inflorescence is upright and the bracts are red with a green border. The number of bracts is significantly reduced and look obviously less flamboyant compared to most other heliconias. The rather small inflorescences of this heliconia tends to get ‘lost’ amongst its lush foliage and I can only find it by sifting through the leaves!

‘Dwarf Jamaican’ is perhaps the only small heliconia that can be grown inside containers, due to its smallish size. When grown inside a large pot, it will take some time for the plant’s growth rate to catch up with the size of the container. Whenever clumps become crowded, the plant can be taken out of its pot and divided.

Tags: Heliconia stricta 'Dwarf Jamaican'