About Heliconia collinsiana Griggs
Heliconia collinsiana Griggs, commonly called platanillo, belongs to the Heliconiaceae family. It is an erect herb that typically grows 3.0 to 4.6 meters (10 to 15 feet) tall. This species is native to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and southern Mexico, specifically the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Tabasco, Nayarit, Jalisco, Veracruz, and Michoacán. H. collinsiana is a popular ornamental plant grown in hot, humid climate regions. Its fruits are showy; they start out yellow and ripen to a bright purple-blue. It can be grown outdoors in the frost-free areas of Southern California. For cultivation, it typically prefers growing conditions from full sun to light shade (50% sun), and grows best in rich, well-drained soils.
