Strelitzia reginae - Plant Finder - Missouri Botanical Garden

Strelitzia reginae, called bird of paradise, is probably one of the most well-known plants in the world. It is a bold structural plant, which forms large ... 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Togrowindoors,pickawell-lit,sunnyspot.Inthesummermonthsscreenagainsttheverybrightdirectsun.Waterplantsfreelyandfertilizeregularlyinspringandsummer.Keepdrierinwintermonthsanduseawell-drainedsoil.Birdofparadiseneedmoderatetemperatures65-55°Fatnight.Whentemperaturesriseabove70°F.outside,placeyourplantinasemi-shadedlocationwithgoodaircirculation.Removedeadleavesandflowersastheyoccur. NoteworthyCharacteristics Strelitziareginae,calledbirdofparadise,isprobablyoneofthemostwell-knownplantsintheworld.Itisaboldstructuralplant,whichformslargeevergreenclumpsofstiffleavesgrowingupfromthebase.Thegrey-greenbanana-likeleavesgrowabout3½to4feetinheightandtheflowersstandabovethefoliageatthetipsoflongstalks.Thestructureandpollinationoftheflowersareratherinteresting.Thehard,beak-likesheathfromwhichthefloweremerges,iscalledthespathe.Thisisplacedatrightanglestothestem,whichgivesittheappearanceofabird’shead.Theflowers,whichemergeoneatatimefromthespathe,consistof3brilliantorangesepalsand3brightbluepetals.Twoofthebluepetalsarejoinedtogethertoformanarrow-likenectary.Whenthebirdssittohaveadrinkofnectar,thepetalsopentocovertheirfeetwithpollen.GenusnamehonorsCharlotteSophiaofMecklenburg-Strelitz(1744-1818),whoin1761becameQueentoGeorgeIII.Specificepithetmeansofthequeen. Problems Watchformealybugandscale. Uses Thefascinatingbloomsaresoldascutflowersbythemillionandusedinfloralarrangements.Birdofparadisemakeanexcellentcontainerplantforatriums,sunroomsandgreenhouses.Ifyouhavespacetooverwinterthelargeplants,theydowellmovingfromindoorstooutdoorsforthesummerandbackinsideinthefall.Inwarmerclimates,theyareusedasstreetplantingsandurbanlandscapes. Back to Previous Page ThankYou! TheGardenwouldn'tbetheGardenwithoutourMembers,DonorsandVolunteers. 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