Scientific Name:
Strelitzia reginae
Pronunciation:
stre-LITZ-ee-uh ruh-JYE-nee
Common Name:
bird of paradise
Family Name:
Strelitziaceae
Plant Type:
Flowering cut plant, Flowering pot plant, Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves 25–70cm long x 10–30cm wide, petioles up to 1m long; flowers at the tips of long stalks, the spathe is perpendicular to the stem to appear like a bird's head and beak, florets emerge one at a time from the spathe, three orange sepals and three purplish-blue or white petals (two are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary).
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Origin:
Africa (South Africa)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Cut flower or foliage, Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Shapes:
Lanceolate, Oblong
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Orange, Blue (3 commonly blue petals, 2 fused together as a 'tongue'; orange sepals)
Flower Time at Peak:
Can flower any month
Additional Info:
boat-shaped bract containing 4 or 5 flowers
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, Unlikely to form on indoor plants
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Leaf-like bracts, Rhizomes, Succulent leaves
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
High
Light Level:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mealybugs, Root rot, Scale insects (Disease resistant, Drought tolerant)
