Plant · GBIF taxon 2760669
Heliconia psittacorum
heliconia psittacorumAlso known as Parrot's Beak, Parrot's Flower, False Bird of Paradise, Parakeet Flower
Parrot's beak produces erect, paddle-shaped leaves and strikingly bright flower clusters encased in orange, red, or yellow boat-shaped bracts with green tips. Native to tropical South America and the Caribbean, this evergreen perennial forms dense clumps along riverbanks, forest edges, and sunny clearings. Specialized tropical hummingbirds act as primary pollinators, probing the tubular flowers hidden within the protective bracts for nectar.
TropicalEvergreenFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Snails
- Caterpillars
- Spider mites
ThreatsHabitat destruction in native range and cold temperatures in non-tropical zones
HabitatsTropical rainforests, riverbanks, forest edges, wet clearings, and landscaped gardens
Life spanPerennial (rhizomes survive indefinitely in frost-free climates)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderZingiberales
- FamilyHeliconiaceae
- GenusHeliconia
- Speciesheliconia psittacorum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Gardening: Plant rhizomes in rich, moist, well-draining soil with full sun to partial shade.
- Observation: Look inside the boat-shaped floral bracts to spot the small tubular flowers.
- Maintenance: Trim back spent flowering stalks near ground level to encourage fresh shoots.
Look-alike (c) Henry de Lange, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Henry de Lange · cc-by
Pollinator 
Close Relative (c) Kevin Faccenda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kevin Faccenda · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Rosario, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rosario · cc-by
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