I shouldn't have to point out the obvious to you, which is, in zone 5 or zone 6, you don't have a chance in Hades of getting any heliconia to grow and bloom in a garden "planted out" for anyone. And you aren't asking for cheap plants here. Heliconia champneiana "Splash" is one of the more hard to locate and EXPENSIVE heliconias, and also one of the finickier types. It isn't all that well suited to container culture either. "Hot Rio Nights" (also known as Dimitri Sucre) gets WAY too big for either someone with cancer or someone with a disability to manage.
I sympathize with you and what you are trying to do, but it just ain't gonna work.

Hello bihai, So even with protection they won't grow, Huuum... I been told something to that extent before and was able to grow the plants in my green house and still have them after 5 years now. I may just buy one and see, if it dies it will just be my loss.
Thanks for your info though.
George

So you aren't actually planting them out for a cancer victim, they are actually for YOU and your greenhouse?

Hi bihai, yes I am planting them for Kathy who has cancer, but I would like some too for myself as I have pretty well used up all my own plants, I planted her some Passifora's a few white butterfly gingers rhizomes, some cannas, various hardy hibiscus. I'm down to just a few passion vines and some hibiscus that I grow.
I thought I could plant the Heliconias in a large 30gal. container for her and move them inside for her if need be, she lives just down the road from me. I have a small green house and also move some of my plants inside to a extra room. I posted that I have been wanting some for myself also, if you will back read my post some, besides planting some for her. I can still trade a Passiflora foetida some hardy hibiscus seeds, and some rare Bolivian pepper seeds although I didn't post them, I'm not trying to put anything over on any one, if you think that is what I'm doing, I did say that I would be glad to pay the postage if it wasn't to much, and I did say that I was hoping to get some for myself. I don't understand what is wrong with that. George W. Z6 Mo.

i sympathize too,but like bahai said,unless you have a greenhouse with at least a 12 feet high roof,they are not going to work
maybe try smaller strictas,like dorado gold,or sharonii.
beleive me these plants get HUGE!!