The Heliconia rostrata, known locally as Lobster Claw or False Bird of Paradise, is a vibrant tropical plant commonly found in Tobago’s rainforests. Its striking red and yellow bracts not only captivate the eye but also play an important ecological role.
This plant thrives along shaded forest trails like Gilpin Trace and within the historic Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. Heliconias attract hummingbirds, especially the native Copper-rumped Hummingbird, which helps pollinate them and sustain the forest’s biodiversity.
Admired for both its beauty and function, the Heliconia is a true symbol of Tobago’s natural heritage, bold, resilient, and deeply rooted in the island’s wild landscape.