Family: Heliconiaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands and Puerto Rico
  
• Potential weed of botanical garden (impacts unverified)
  
• Other Heliconia species have naturalized and may be invasive
  
• Host of several plant pathogens that would impact other ornamental Heliconia species
  
• Shade-tolerant (capable of establishing in forest understory)
  
• Large rhizomes (functionally a geophyte)
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
  
• Seeds exhibit dormancy, may form a persistent seed bank (longevity unknown)
  
• Able to resprout from rhizomes after cutting or damage to pseudostem

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Requires specialized pollinators (hummingbirds) which may limit seed set in areas lacking hummingbirds