Abstract:Heliconia plants including 38 taxa were introduced to South China Botanical Garden in the early 1980s from Australia and in 1997 to 1999 from Thailand, Australia, Singapore, the United States, etc. This paper presents the growth, phenological phase and cold resistance of heliconias introduced. Results of the cultivation showed that Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen had longest growth period lasting 13 to 15 months from budding to blooming, while H. densiflora Vedot cv. Fire Flash lasted only 3 to 4 months. The longest flowering period （with more than 6 months） was observed in individual H. angusta Vellozo cv. Holiday. Most heliconias had flowering time of 1 to 3 months only. Many heliconias could be used as good materials for cut flowers, such as H. latispatha Bentham cv. Orange Gyro, H. rostrata Ruiz ＆ Pavon, H. bourgaeana Petersen, H. hirsuta L. f. cv. Darrell, H. aurantiaca Ghiesbreght ex Lemaire, H. librata Griggs, etc. A list of introduced heliconias taxa with phenological phases and cold resistance under Guangzhou conditions is tabulated.
