What is Heliconia.org and what does the Heliconia Society International do?

Updated

Heliconia.org is the website of the Heliconia Society International (HSI), a membership organization focused on Heliconia and related plants in the order Zingiberales. It serves growers, researchers, and horticultural enthusiasts by combining education, research support, and communication. If you want to identify or register a cultivar, read its quarterly Bulletin, apply for research funding, or attend a conference, this site is the central hub for those activities.

What HSI is and who it serves

HSI describes its purpose as increasing the enjoyment and understanding of Heliconia and related Zingiberales through education, research, and communication. That mission translates into practical resources for three broad audiences:

  • Growers and hobbyists looking for cultivation information and a community.
  • Researchers and students working on the botany and horticulture of these plants.
  • Cultivar developers who need an official registration channel.

The official cultivar registration role

One of HSI's most concrete functions is acting as the official International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for several genera. According to the site, HSI is the ICRA for:

  • Heliconia
  • Etlingera
  • Costus
  • Cheilocostus
  • Chamaecostus
  • Paracostus

This means you can register a new cultivar or look up existing cultivars through the site. If you have developed or discovered a distinct cultivar in any of these genera, the registration service is the authoritative route to have it formally recorded.

Main resources and programs

Resource What it offers
Quarterly Bulletin A members' publication; back issues are now free to preview for non-members
Research Grants Small grants supporting botany and horticulture research on Zingiberales by graduate and post-doctoral students; annual grants of $1,000
Conferences Periodic international meetings, including an upcoming Thailand event
Cultivar Registration Official registration and lookup for the genera listed above

Research grants

HSI sponsors a small grants program for research projects on any aspect of the botany and horticulture of the Zingiberales. The grants are aimed at graduate and post-doctoral students, with annual grants of $1,000 available. If you are a student planning a project in this area, this is a specific, bounded funding source worth checking.

Conferences

The site notes a conference originally planned for Thailand. The XXIII Conference at Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, has been postponed and will be held in 2027, with an optional post tour to Chiang Mai. Registration and details are posted on the site.

The Bulletin

Members receive the quarterly Bulletin. If you are unsure about joining, back issues are now free to non-members, which lets you preview the content before committing to membership.

How to get involved

  • Join or renew membership to receive the quarterly Bulletin.
  • Preview back issues for free if you want to sample the content first.
  • Register a cultivar or look up existing ones if you work with any of the covered genera.
  • Apply for a research grant if you are a graduate or post-doctoral student in a relevant field.
  • Watch for conference details for the rescheduled 2027 Thailand event.

The site accepts PayPal as a payment platform, which is relevant if you are signing up for membership or paying for conference registration.