Flower Library
Lobster Claw
Heliconia · Heliconiaceae
The heliconia is the queen of tropical cut flowers: its zigzag-arranged, waxy bracts resemble lobster claws or parrot beaks — hence the English name lobster claw. There are upright and spectacularly hanging forms, both with enormous long-range impact. A single stem carries an entire floor vase. We buy heliconias as fresh import stock via the Veiling Rhein-Maas whenever exotic commissions or vessel work come up.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 10–21 days
- Latin name
- Heliconia
- Colors
- Red, Orange, Yellow, Red-yellow, Pink with green
The heliconia gets its colour play from its bracts, in whose chambers the small true flowers sit hidden. It shares this construction with its close relative, the strelitzia — and it is why heliconias can hold out for two to three weeks in the vase.
In floristry there are two worlds: upright species such as Heliconia bihai and stricta with compact, ramrod-straight flower heads, and hanging species such as Heliconia rostrata, whose cascades of red-and-yellow beaks trail down half a metre. Hanging forms need raised vessels or suspension points to work.
The heliconia is a flower of the grand gesture: reception areas, stage sets, floor vases, exotic sympathy work. In a hand-tied bouquet it only makes sense in small, compact varieties. It is classically combined with strelitzias, anthuriums and large tropical foliage — or puristically as a soloist.
Like all tropical imports it tolerates no cold: below ten to twelve degrees, glassy and later black patches form on the bracts. The fridge is off limits, as is waiting unprotected in a cold car. Transported warm and displayed warm, it rewards you with weeks of vase life.
Quality stock shows glossy, plump bracts with rich colour gradients and clean, unbrowned edges. Since the stems carry a lot of weight, on buying day we also check the neck below the flower head — that is where poorly handled stock kinks first.
Is Lobster Claw toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The heliconia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people. The fibrous plant parts are hard to digest, however, and larger swallowed pieces can irritate the digestive tract.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Give the stem a strong cut and place it in a heavy, tall vase with plenty of water.
- 02Keep it warm — never below twelve degrees, neither in the fridge nor by a cold window.
- 03Mist the flower head regularly with water or rinse it briefly.
- 04Change the water every two to three days and recut the stem.
- 05Position hanging varieties so the cascade can fall freely.
- 06Trim browned bract edges cleanly with scissors to extend the display.
Frequently asked
- How long does a heliconia last in the vase?
- Fresh import stock lasts a good ten to twenty-one days in a warm spot. The waxy bracts age extremely slowly. The key is that the flower is never exposed to cold — chill damage cuts vase life drastically and only shows up with a delay.
- Is heliconia toxic to cats or dogs?
- The heliconia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people, making it one of the safer exotics. The fibrous bracts are hard to digest, though — nibbling can upset the stomach and should not become a habit.
- What is the difference between heliconia and strelitzia?
- The two are related and both work with striking bracts, but the strelitzia carries its orange-and-blue flower like a birds head singly on the stem, while the heliconia stacks several bracts in a zigzag — upright or hanging. The heliconia also grows considerably larger and heavier.
- Can heliconias be used in a hand-tied bouquet?
- Only the compact upright varieties — and even those instantly dominate any bouquet. Their strength lies in large vessel work and room decoration, where one to three stems with some large foliage already make a complete picture. For a classic bouquet we tend to reach for strelitzia or anthurium instead.