It is closely related to Datura, belonging to the same nightshade family, solanaceae. Brugmansia blooms dangle like great trumpets or bells while Datura blooms stand erect.
In general, Heliconias are evergreen in the Tropics and warm Subtropics, like zone 10. Further north, upper zone 9 and lower zone 8, they may be frozen back to the ground each Winter but survive to resprout the next Spring.