Strelitzia spp.
bird-of-paradise flowers
Overview
Strelitzia is a genus of five evergreen perennials in the family Strelitziaceae, known as bird-of-paradise, native to South Africa. Plants form clumps of large, long-stalked, paddle-shaped leaves that rise directly from the base, and leaf blades range from 1 to 6 feet (0.3-1.8 m) long depending on species. Clump-forming species such as S. reginae reach 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) tall, while the tree-like S. nicolai grows a woody trunk to 20-30 feet (6-9 m). The flowers emerge from a horizontal boat-shaped bract and consist of pointed sepals and petals, with S. reginae bearing orange sepals and blue petals that resemble a bird head, while S. nicolai bears white and blue flowers. Flowering lasts several weeks, and individual blooms open in succession from each bract. The genus grows as a frost-tender evergreen, surviving outdoors in USDA zones 10-12 and grown as a container or greenhouse plant in colder regions. Plants are slow to establish and may take 3-5 years to flower from division. All parts contain compounds that cause digestive upset in pets and people if eaten, and the seeds are especially toxic.
Native Range
Strelitzia is native to South Africa, where species grow in coastal bush, forest margins, and riverbanks of the eastern and southern Cape. The genus occurs naturally only in this region but is now planted in warm climates worldwide as a garden plant.Suggested Uses
Grown as a specimen and accent plant in warm-climate gardens, and as a container or greenhouse plant in cold regions. S. nicolai is used as a large structural plant and screen, while S. reginae is grown for cut flowers. Both are used in tropical-style plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 30'
Width/Spread3' - 12'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly from autumn through spring in mild climates, though established plants can bloom through much of the year. Each boat-shaped bract releases a succession of flowers over several weeks. Plants reach several years of age before they begin to flower.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
orange and blue, or white and blueFoliage Description
blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Strelitzia species grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH near 6.0-7.5. The genus needs warmth and tolerates only light frost, with foliage damaged below 28-30F (-2 to -1C). Plants need regular water and feeding during the growing season for steady growth and tolerate short dry spells once established. In containers they flower more freely when slightly pot-bound and given bright light. Growth is slow, and division or root disturbance delays flowering for one to several years. Indoor plants need a position with bright light.Pruning
Pruning is limited to clearing spent flower stalks and dead or damaged leaves at the base. Clumps are divided in spring, though division sets back flowering. The tree species S. nicolai needs no routine pruning beyond clearing old leaf bases from the trunk.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons