Strelitzia Species, Bird of Paradise, Crane Flower

On Jan 5, 2021, UtahTropics12 from Orem, UT (Zone 7a) wrote:

The furthest north i’ve seen this plant grown outside 100% successfully in the U.S. is Brookings/ Harbor, Oregon. The zone in the area is 9b/10a but is very cool, wet and temperate. The summer is cool and sunny and temps are usually in the high 60’s to low 70’s, and the Winter is very wet, foggy and mild with lows in the 40’s. I’ve seen several specimens planted out all over town and have even seen some of them bloom year after year. It’s hard to believe how good these beautiful exotic plants from South Africa do in this temperate, maritime southern pacific northwest climate. Even with getting 75”- 80” of rain every year and pretty cool temps year round Strelizia reginae does surprisingly well. I would definitely recommend for EXTREME Southern Oregon and northern California.

On Sep 10, 2014, keenamateur from Porvoo,
Finland wrote:

I must be really lucky if your other comments are to be believed. Whilst in Madeira last Christmas I bought 2 packs of seeds of bird of paradise plants one usual pink and one blue. these were off the market and in small plastic bags so not commercial.
I live in Finland so potted some of these indoors just to see what would happen so far I have 6 plants >YES 6. the first 4 are of the blue variety and now have 4 leaves each. the others I am not sure as I did a mixed batch and two have just come through within the past week or so . again indoors.
I don't suppose I will ever dare to put them out in the garden given our winters but am really pleased with the success so far. No idea how long before they should flower but can wait and see. cheers thanks for listening

On Aug 14, 2011, juku from York Point, NS (Zone 5a) wrote:

I bought a huge plant (25 gal pot) with numerous blooms from a nursery owner last summer. At Christmas I splitted it into 4 smaller plants using a hand saw. I gave 3 away to friends as present. Currently, mine is blooming and so are everyone else's. Great plant!

On Dec 27, 2010, geniebug from Torrance, CA wrote:

I live in Southern California. My Bird of Paradise is on the southwest corner of the house in a dry area. For years it bloomed infrequently then I started watering it once a week with everything else and it has gone crazy with the blooms now.

On Nov 20, 2009, eGreenGardens from Bundaberg,
Australia wrote:

I have two Strelitzia reginae plants which are about 8 years old and flower regularly. I would like to grow more using their seeds and have been checking them regularly for seed pods ... but none to be found. Does anyone have any ideas? Also, does anyone have a picture of where the seed pod in relation to the flower or can you describe where I should be finding it.

Thanks heaps!

On Nov 12, 2009, stephenp from Wirral, UK, Zone 9a,
United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:

A lovely plant, world famous of course.

Mine has yet to flower but I am expecting to do so soon!

At the moment this is growing in a pot for me, I have thought about planting it out but don't have the room. It's the age old adage of keeping them dry in winter, if this is achieved they are fairly hardy and in my experience can take up to about -5C.

Here in minimum temperature zone 9a, where there is cover it is well worth trying outside, however as mine is currently small and many of my palms and plants that would be used as cover are fairly small also, I will keep it in a pot, so if a very cold spell comes about I can move it.

The only downside about this plant is that it doesn't grow too fast here, with less sunshine than the so... read moreuth coast of UK (although more than central/northern UK), it only puts out day 4 leaves a year which means that it doesn't make huge amounts of growth in a year.

However the ability to survive some of the inclement weather that Uk throws at it, plus for it's beauty I have rated this a positive experience.

On Oct 17, 2008, Upir from Jupiter, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:

I found this plant tossed outside for the garbage man at the mall where I used to work in NJ; I brought it home, where for 2 months it did nothing but sit there looking rotten. Now, I've moved to FL, where I promptly put the big guy out on my balcony. What a difference! In the space of 3 months it's already grown 3 HUGE new leaves, and looks like it's working on a 4th (or maybe a whole new stalk?)... I can't wait to see if I can get it healthy enough to bloom! Surprised how willingly it was brought back to life - hardier than I thought, I guess!

On Aug 21, 2008, AarronIkarus from Onalaska, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

Our greenhouse has two of these: one in the back (which gets more shade), and the other in the front (which gives it more sunlight). The one in the back has bloomed twice this summer. The one in the front has never bloomed to my knowledge.

On May 20, 2007, eliasastro from Athens,
Greece (Zone 10a) wrote:

Very showy plant with really tropical appearance.
It can tolerate our cool winters (avg. 50° F), cool winds, and even light frosts!
In the last great snowfall of Athens in February 2004 (min. temp. 23°F/-5°C, the lowest since many decades) the unprotected plants died down and grew again in spring.
Hand pollination is necesarry in my area and it was done succesfully in early spring, despite the lack of warm temperatures.

On Jul 18, 2006, phoenixtropical from Mesa, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote:

The tropical bird of paradise grows great in Phoenix Arizona, especially on the northern side of the house. It is easy to take care of but takes a long time to start blooming.

http://www.phoenixtropicals.com/tropicalBirdOfParadise.html

On Jul 15, 2005, fluffygrue from Manchester,
United Kingdom (Zone 8a) wrote:

Lovely plant, this. I've not yet had flowers, but leaf growth is very glossy and green, so I'm hopeful.. This one never sees real sunlight as it's behind a thin curtain, and it's happy.

I'd suspect browning of leaves was either too much/little water or scorching from too much direct sunlight.

On Apr 3, 2005, miltonmama from Milton, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

I, like k5cents, have a strelitzia whose tips curl and turn brown. Is this normal?

On Aug 27, 2004, pokerboy from Canberra,
Australia (Zone 8b) wrote:

A great plant with exotic flowers and large leaves. Drought tolerant once established. It can survive tempuratures to -8 in a sheltered position. That means under a pergola or patio roof in a pot. Mine did anyway andf it was quite young. Does well in semishade. Good for seaside gardens as the leathery leaves withstand the salt breeze. It is a interesting plant. pokerboy.

On Apr 6, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:

Although Bird of Paradise has in Rio de Janeiro the perfect conditions to grow, people seem to avoid it. I don´t know why. It´s a beautiful plant, with great flowers, and doesn´t demand more care than the regular plants.

On Nov 18, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote:

This plant grows everywhere in St. Petersburg, Florida, zone 9b. It is used a lot in commercial landscaping, as well as residential yards. In recent years the Tampa Bay Area has become a "heat island," due to all of the development and concrete, and with less than the usual rainfall, but these plants still do very well there despite the often drought conditions and water restrictions.

On Jan 6, 2003, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

In Southern California, where this plant is grown all over, both in public and private gardens, as well as along streets and businesses, it is a very hardy plant. It does exceptionally well even in most of zone 9. It is also fairly drought tolerant, though also difficult to overwater. It is one of the easiest plants to move and divide, having short, very fleshy rhizomous roots that, though very brittle, recover easily and quickly.

There are several varieties of this plant, both in size of leaf, color of leaf (some blue-green) and particularly in the flower. A few varieties have double flowers, some have flowers with an exceptional amount of red or vermillion at their base, and there is a rare yellow-leaf variety (collector's item).

When the flower dies, t... read morehe preferred method of 'pruning' is to yank the flower spike from the plant (careful in newly planted plants or the whole plant may come up). Otherwise, over time, the plant gets a messy, sloppy look with all the dead flower and leaf bases remained. Older plants can be recognized by their exceptional size, producing flower and leaves up to 7' in length (over 20 years).

On Sep 4, 2002, Evert from Helsinki,
Finland (Zone 4b) wrote:

Pretty plant with big leaves and exotic flowers. Often used in flower arrangements. Easy to grow from seeds.