{"product_id":"hot-rio-nights-heliconia-heliconia-bihai-x-caribaea-hot-rio-nights","title":"Hot Rio Nights Heliconia - Heliconia bihai x caribaea ‘Hot Rio Nights’","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHot Rio Nights Heliconia - Heliconia bihai x caribaea ‘Hot Rio Nights’\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike the hanging heliconias, this cross between two upright lobster claw species of the Caribbean and northern South America holds its flower heads erect at the tops of the stems. Each inflorescence is a stacked fan of glossy red bracts tipped with golden yellow, up to about half a metre long, standing on clean stems among broad leaves. \u003cem\u003eHeliconia bihai\u003c\/em\u003e x \u003cem\u003ecaribaea\u003c\/em\u003e ‘Hot Rio Nights’ forms a tight clump that gives a garden real tropical height in South East Queensland and on the New South Wales north coast; further south it needs a warm, sheltered, frost free microclimate and flowers less freely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Hot Rio Nights Heliconia\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUpright Flower Heads\u003c\/strong\u003e: The erect bracts stand at the top of each stem among the upper leaves, so the display faces outwards and upwards rather than hanging below the foliage.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLarge, Long Lasting Bracts\u003c\/strong\u003e: Each head is among the largest of the garden heliconias and stays in colour on the plant for weeks.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVertical Stems\u003c\/strong\u003e: The stems rise straight rather than arching outwards, so the clump keeps a clean edge beside paths and walls.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroad Leaf Blades\u003c\/strong\u003e: Long, wide leaves on tall stalks give a dense green backdrop that sets off the red heads.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer to Autumn Season\u003c\/strong\u003e: Flowering runs through the months when pools and terraces are most in use.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSide Fence Planting\u003c\/strong\u003e: A line of clumps hides paling or masonry under broad leaves in frost free gardens.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePool Surround\u003c\/strong\u003e: Set back from the coping, the clump frames the water with tall leaves and red flower heads.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSheltered Corner Feature\u003c\/strong\u003e: One clump in a corner protected from wind gives a strong vertical accent in summer and autumn.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLayered Tropical Beds\u003c\/strong\u003e: Sits between palms and lower gingers or cordylines to fill the middle storey of the planting.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 to 2m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late spring and summer, once the soil is warm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compost rich loam that holds moisture through summer yet drains quickly after storms\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water two or three times a week through the first warm season and keep the root zone moist, since dry spells reduce flowering. Feed every six to eight weeks from spring to autumn, mulch thickly, and remove each stem at its base after it flowers, letting fresh shoots from the rhizome take its place.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 to 3m per clump\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast through the warm months\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen in frost free gardens\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade, with shelter from hot afternoon sun and wind outside the tropics\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hybrid of Heliconia bihai and Heliconia caribaea, species of the Caribbean and northern South America\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red bracts tipped with golden yellow\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":60207438790942,"sku":"ND-1856-400MM","price":920.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500mm","offer_id":60207438856478,"sku":"ND-1856-500MM","price":1160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/hot-rio-nights-heliconia-heliconia-bihai-x-caribaea-hot-rio-nights.jpg?v=1791513212","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/hot-rio-nights-heliconia-heliconia-bihai-x-caribaea-hot-rio-nights","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}