Botanical Name: Strelitzia reginae
CommonName: Bird of Paradise

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Indigenous
Evergreen/Deciduous : Evergreen
Plant Type : Perennial shrub
Flower Colour : Orange and blue
Foliage Colour : Grey to green
Best Season : Autumn to Spring
Light : Sun to semi-shade
Hardiness : Semi-hardy
Attributes : Wind Resistant, Attracts Birds & Butterflies
Height (m) : 1 - 1.5
Spread (m) : 1 - 1.5
    
Notes : This thick, clump-forming dramatic form plant produces tight clusters of stems bearing long, striking grey green leaves. Spectacularly showy flowers which resemble exotic birds poised for flight consist of green bracts surrounding orange flowers with blue tongues. Though slow to mature, after the first two years flowers are borne freely at all favourable times. Very popular as a cut flower. Plant in good, well-composted soil and water regularly. Grow in a position which gets at least half-day sun - full sun is preferable, if the plant is to flower well. They can also be grown in areas which have light to moderate frost if they are planted in a protected position. Wind resistant, making them most useful for coastal gardens.

 

They are amazingly drought resistant, yet do equally well in moist, tropical gardens. Resent disturbance and really only flower well when established. If this must be done, do it in early spring. Don't make too many divisions form a single specimen as they will take a long time to re-establish and flower again. May also be propagated from seed sown when ripe; set out the young plants about 1.5 metres apart. Familiar to most gardeners as the floral emblem of Natal and also, strangely enough of Los Angeles.