Hi, I live in northern California on the coast, and am growing a few cold hardy heliconias.
One that is the hardiest is H.schiedeana(from mountains of mexico). I'm going to try next winter: H.latispatha, H.rostrata, H. pittiscorum, and a couple others that are questionable. Who else is growing Heliconias, and do you recommend any for colder climates?
Thanks, Kyle

i also live in northern california, more specifically in contra costa county, where temperatures are usually in the low 100's in the summer and can get in the low 30s in the winter. i would love to start growing heliconias and gingers, and was wondering if you could help me by providing a list of readily-available varieties that will flower in our neck of the woods.

Heliconias don't seem to be very readily available, but fortunatly the most cold hardy species is widely available(H.schiendana, misspelled), because of tissue culturing. I haven't gotten any to blooming size yet, but am trying a few from Mexico, and one from southern Brazil.
Sorry I can't be of more help. You may find info on the garden web if you do an archive search on the tropical plant forum.

I got some at Home Depot and they grew like mad this summer but we've had a couple of light freezes and they've gotten zapped a bit.

I'm looking for them to come back in the spring but it's a waiting game at this point.

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