Strelitzia reginae, commonly known as the bird of paradise, is appropriately named for its dramatic foliage and big, showy blooms that resemble the beak and plumage of a tropical bird. The distinctive bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae or Strelizia nicolai) is one of the best known of all the tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana.Surprisingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. Growing Requirements for Bird of Paradise Plants Strelitzia are only hardy in USDA zones 9-12 The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) grows best when it receives a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight a day, but they should have bright light all day. Landscaping Features This plant requires little encouragement to bloom, happy with enough light and water for its needs. These It is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. times, RHS Registered Charity no. The strelitzia reginae (scientific name) is one of the most spectacular flowering plants that can be grown indoors, when the correct conditions are provided. Place in a bottom heated-propagator, at temperatures of 18-21°C (65-70°F). Above 70 ºF (21 ºC), this plant should be relocated to a partial shade environment in order to avoid sunburn on the flowers. Before you sow, soak them for a few hours in luke warm water and then nick with a knife or scratch with sandpaper the seed coat, to further speed up germination. Let the surface of the soil dry out between waterings in spring and summer; water sparingly in winter. The biggest drawback is typically its size (they grow up to 5 feet) and the fact that plants need 3 to 5 years before they will flower. Bright light with 3-4 hours of direct sun daily. Strelitzia reginae is the most popular Bird of Paradise plant. When propagating from seed, it will take the newly formed plant up to three years to begin blooming. Calathea. Strelitzia reginae is a native to the eastern coastlines of southern Africa, where it grows wild in patches that are sometimes miles across. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Warm temperatures. In a windy site the leaves will become shredded and tatty. Strelitzia Reginae. Germination should take about four to eight weeks. Bird of paradise - The Strelitzia Reginae. augusta, Strelitzia angusta, Strelitzia augusta Summary of Strelitzia facts. Ficus Pumila, F. Lyrata, F. Elastica and F. Benjamina. It makes a striking addition to your conservatory. This red flush is a random occurrence, sometimes taking place on some leaves of a plant, while other leaves of the same plant remain completely green. However, you should avoid over-watering to prevent root rot. Strelitiza reginae can be propagated from seed and divisions. Indoors in a bright spot it will flower for months providing a hard to beat exotic centrepiece! Submit your house plant to the new forum and ask others for identification. Water to keep the soil just moist and remember to air the propagator daily. You can cut back on watering during this time. Above 70 ºF (21 ºC), care instructions do change slightly. That means a sunny position, at worst part shade, with free draining soil. The genus Strelitzia is named after Charlotte, the Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who is wife of George III. There are five main species and varieties, although only Strelitzia Reginae and Strelitzia Nicolai are treated as houseplants. Dracaena Fragrans, D Braunii, D Marginata and D. Reflexa. Strelitzia is a superb plant that comes from the tropics, boasting simply magnificent flowers and nicely dense leafage. All plants are grown by propagating divisions from large excavated clumps. Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold' is an easy plant to grow and will thrive in most soils.. The Strelitziaceae family is host to the Strelitzia reginae, which is a well-known South African plant that is identifiable for its striking colours and unique shape. How it looks: At an average of over 6 feet tall, this plant has the appearance of a bird's head when it is flowering. See the guide for repotting house plants with useful tips. Propagation from division should produce flower plants much more quickly. Top dressings of manure or blood meal are always welcomed by these plants. Daytime temperatures of 68°-72° and night temperatures of 50° to 55° are optimal. Reginae produces yellow blooms and only grow to 6ft where as the aforementioned Nicolai grow to 30ft and adorn white flowers. Strelitzia Reginae Care. They can cope with either very little water or lots – provided that the water is running through the soil away from the plant. It is sometimes referred to as the Crane plant due to the flowers looking like the feathers on the head of a crane. During the cooler months, its growth will slow. The Bird of Paradise requires moderate temperatures year-round. Pests Strelitzia’s suffer from the typical glasshouse pests including scale insect, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybug. The specific epithet reginae means queen. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 55 ºF (13 ºC), but prefer to remain in the 70-90 ºF (21-32 ºC) range. There are plenty of places for these pests to hide within the crown and the leaf axils, so regularly check for them. Flowering occurs multiple times a year if the plant is well taken care of. Other names. There are five varieties of this perennial plant, the most common of which is the Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia nicolai, or the white bird of paradise. Leaf shredding When growing specimens outside ensure that they are placed in a sheltered spot. The leaves are evergreen, while the flowers will come and go. Strelitzia reginae, also known as bird of paradise plant, is so named for its intense orange and blue blooms that resemble the head of an exotic bird. Once the plant has reached its full height, it produces a hard sideways sheath called a spathe. High humidity. You should keep the soil moist during the warmer months to prevent wilting. When in bloom, three orange sepals stick up from the spathe, along with three blue petals that hold the nectar of the flower. Roseopicta, C. Zebrina, C. Crocata, C. Makoyana, C Lancifolia and others. Vriesea Splendens, Tillandsia, Billbergia, Guzmania, Aechmea Fasciata and others. Height – 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters) Exposure – full sun, part sun Soil – … Strelitzia Strelitzia. They require regular watering during spring and summer to maintain constant moisture, without saturating the potting media; this should be then gradually reduced during the autumn. Strelitzia reginae or Bird of Paradise produces spectacular, long-lasting and unique vivid orange and blue flowers, which look much like a tropical bird. Strelitzia reginae is widely used in landscaping as an architectural plant and focal point. When grown outdoors, this bird of paradise responds well to granular landscape fertilizers. It has blue and orange flowers and grows to around 4ft (1.5m). Strelitzia reginae is not hardy and requires a minimum winter night temperature of 10-12°C (50-54°F) They also prefer a humid atmosphere, which is why they tend to thrive and flower well in conservatories and glasshouses. Prick out and pot on into individual pots using John innes No 3 with added grit, or other free draining potting medium, when the seedling are of a good size and have two to three leaves. They rarely perform well as houseplants, as … The Strelitzia reginae is relatively unpretentious and can also be easily grown in the Central European climate. The Strelitzia can be propagated from seeds or by division. It forms a clump of broadly oblong, grey-green leaves on long stalks and in winter and spring, produces unusual orange and blue flowers that resemble a birds head. A standard potting soil will suffice for this plant's continued health. During the fall and winter months fertilization to once every month. The plant grows to over 6 feet tall, and is designed to fully support the weight of birds who stop to eat the nectar. RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected Bird of Paradise, Bird of Paradise Flower, Crane Flower, Orange Strelitzia, Oiseau du Paradis (French), Paradiesvogelblume (German), Bananeira Rainha (Portuguese), Estrelítzia (Portuguese), Flor Ave do Paraíso (Portuguese), Flor da Rainha (Portuguese), Papegojblomma (Swedish) The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 3 ½ to 4 feet in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The strelitzia reginae hails from South Africa but is now grown all over the world. Fertilise your Strelitzia in spring and autumn with a general purpose fertiliser like Ferticote. Leaves are bushy and wide, growing up to 2 feet long and 12in (30cm) in width. It is a long lived plant, and takes up to three years to begin producing flowers. The seeds are woody, brown and small, with tufts of orange on them. It has blue and white flowers and can grow to as much as 33ft (10m) tall! the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Blooming can be almost continuous from early spring into early fall, provided the plant is cared for. Strelitzia reginae, called bird of paradise, is probably one of the most well-known plants in the world. When propagated by division, the process interrupts the growth cycle of the parent plant, resulting in a year without blooms. Strelitzia reginae, also known as crane flower, is native to South Africa and derives its name from the unusual flowers, which resemble brightly colored birds in flight. Join The bird of paradise belongs to the Strelitziaceae plant family and its formal plant name is Strelitzia. Strelitzia reginae. © 2013new Date().getFullYear()>2013&&document.write("-"+new Date().getFullYear());, Houseplantsexpert.com. If the pot is big enough It can grow to 2 m / 6.6 ft tall, with large, tough banana like leaves 25–70cm / 9.8–28in long. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. If you take care of some basic nurturing principles, this exotic, not winter-hardy plant will thrive magnificently. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, Our Garden Centres and online shops are packed with unique and thoughtful gifts and decorations to make your Christmas sparkle, General enquiries Strelitzia nicolai is a giant Bird of Paradise. Mature specimens (six years +) will eventually bloom during spring to summer if its previous dormancy period has been served well in winter. Poisonous: This species is mildly toxic for cats, dogs and people which would need to be consumed in fairly large amounts to affect the person or pet. Botanical name. The bird of paradise is a very impressive houseplant that is a lot easier to care for than people think. 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