Life Span
Annual or Biennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
Heliconiaceae
Number of Varieties
-194
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
Humid climates, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Lavender
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Tan
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From bulbs
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize every two months
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil
Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Mice
Hummingbirds, Insects
Allergy
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Soil protection
Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Healing
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Root
Root, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
Common Name
Mexican Yam bean
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
In Hindi
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
In German
Yambohne
Heliconia
In French
Kłębian kątowaty
Heliconia
In Spanish
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
In Greek
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
In Portuguese
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
In Polish
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
In Latin
Pachyrhizus erosus
Heliconia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Liliopsida
Order
Fabales
Zingiberales
Family
Fabaceae
Heliconiaceae
Genus
Pachyrhizus
Heliconia
Clade
Angiosperms
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
100198
1
27800
👆🏻