Heliconia psittacorum, commonly known as Parrot’s Beak or Parakeet Flower, is a perennial herb that is indigenous to the understory of tropical rainforests and edges of clearings in Central and South America, including French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Panama, Trinidad, and Tobago. It typically grows to a height of 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 meters) with a similar spread. The plant is characterized by its striking inflorescences, which are composed of brightly colored bracts, usually in shades of red, orange, or yellow, that resemble a parrot’s beak. These bracts surround the true flowers, which are small and less conspicuous. The flowering season extends throughout the year in its native habitat, and the flowers are highly showy, making it a popular ornamental plant.

Parrot’s Beak is valued for its exotic and vibrant flowers, which can add a tropical flair to gardens. It is commonly used in landscaping for borders, as an accent plant, or in containers. In cultivation, it requires high humidity, consistently moist soil, and partial to full shade conditions to mimic its native rainforest environment. While it is not drought-tolerant, it can adapt to a variety of well-draining soil types. There are no major disease problems, but spider mites and aphids can occasionally be an issue. It is not considered invasive outside its native range, but care should be taken to prevent escape in suitable tropical climates.CC BY-SA 4.0