Scientific Name
Strelitzia reginae Aiton
Common Name(s)
Bird of Paradise, Bird of Paradise Flower, Crane Flower, Orange Strelitzia, Oiseau du Paradis (French), Paradiesvogelblume (German), Bananeira Rainha (Portuguese), Estrelítzia (Portuguese), Flor Ave do Paraíso (Portuguese), Flor da Rainha (Portuguese), Papegojblomma (Swedish)
Synonym(s)
Strelitzia parvifolia
Scientific Classification
Family: Strelitziaceae
Genus: Strelitzia
Flower
Color: Orange and purplish-blue
Bloom Time: From late fall through late spring
Description
Strelitzia reginae is an evergreen perennial that grows up to 6.6 feet (2 m) tall. It forms clumps of bluish-green, up to 27.6 inches (70 cm) long and up to 11.8 inches (30 cm) wide leaves on long stalks.
From late fall through late spring, orange and blue flowers rise from reed-like grayish leaf stalks that grow up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. These stalks bear flowers of a most interesting floral structure with stiff, beak-like, green, sheath-like bracts held singly at a right angle at the tip of the stalks. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange sepals and three purplish-blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. Individual flowers last about a week.
How to Grow and Care
Bird of Paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants. The plant is a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. Plants can be moved outside in the summer and, in warmer climes, will thrive for half the year outdoors. They typically flower in the late winter or early spring, but they will bloom at various times under optimal conditions.
Strelitzia is a genus of about 5 or 6 species (depending on who you listen to). Strelitzia reginae is the most well-known species frequently grown as house plants. It is a beautiful plant and can be very successfully grown inside. The biggest drawback is typically its size (they grow up to 5 feet/1.5 m) and the fact that plants need 3 to 5 years before they flower. However, they work well in massed plantings or as specimen plants, and their flowers will rise above the foliage for an impressive display. The trick to successful growth is providing lots of bright light (with some gentle, direct sun), water, warmth, and food.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Bird of Paradise Flower.
Origin
Strelitzia reginae is native to South Africa.
Links
- Back to genus Strelitzia
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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