Whether it’s in a bouquet or a well-manicured garden, heliconias are some of the most recognizable tropical plants you’ll encounter. Ranging in height from knee-high to a towering 15 feet, heliconias make a dramatic sight in any setting. Native to the American tropics, heliconias love wet, tropical climates, making Hawai‘i an ideal place to take root. The part of the plant that many people incorrectly consider the flower comes in two forms, erect and pendent — the brightly colored bracts of the inflorescence hiding a smaller, more delicate flower, much like a ginger’s. Within those two forms, though, lies an almost innumerable variety of colors and shapes. The“Andromeda” variety, with its striking pink, orange, and yellow bracts tipped in black like a bird’s claw, stays short but makes a dramatic border in a garden. Others, such as Heliconia rostrata, hang down amid their towering green leaves in bright red bracts with yellow and green tips, resembling a lobster claw or parrot’s beak. Still other hanging heliconias look like graceful dancers caughtmid-motion. Keep your eyes peeled for these unexpected plants on your travels, and see how many of the nearly 200 species you can find.