Out of Africa - Garden Plants - Strelitzia

Name – the Strelizia was named after Charlotte, the wife of George III, of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The common name is Bird of Paradise because the flowers resemble the head of a peacock.

Description – This is a tropical plant with huge oval leaves on long stems and bird-like orange and blue flowers. It is grown for the flowers, and often sold as a cut flower but it can be raised in a large pot if you have a greenhouse or conservatory and plenty of space.

Origins - The plant originates in South Africa so to grow it at home you need to replicate the conditions it would find there, this means that it will require frequent watering in summer, but much less in winter. Be aware that as with most non-equitorial African plants, over-watering in winter can cause root rot and wait until the soil is almost bone dry before re-watering. It will be used to good soil so feed every fortnight or so through the plant’s growing season. Strelitzia tend to do very well in a British greenhouse or conservatory, though they should be protected from frost. Happy plants will usually start to come into flower at around Christmas. As soon as the frosts are absolutely open, you can place the plant outside in a sheltered south-facing garden to enjoy the full hours of sunlight because this is a plant that loves sun, happily basking in anything over 15°C in summer and still liking to be 10°C to 13°C.

For Decoration - As a cut flower, you need to buy them when the first flower bud is fully open – don’t wait until three or four buds are open as this means the plant is already past its best. Note that the stems tend to ooze a rather sticky sap which you can wipe away with kitchen towel. When each flower wilts, you can gently pull away wilted crests and new ones will pop up from inside the 'beak'.

Africa Strelitzia photograph by abbynormy, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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