Perennials, Tropicals > Strelitzia > Strelitzia
Strelitzia
Bird of Paradise, Crane Flower
Origin: South Africa.
| Family |
| Strelitziaceae |
| Genus |
| Strelitzia |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 11a - 11b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 4 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 40 - 50 |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| The genus houses five species and is named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the birthplace of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom. |
| Landscape |
| Makes an ideal potted plant and cut flower. |
| Cultivation |
| Grows well in full sun to part shade, in a rich soil. Fairly tolerant of different soil conditions, needing little water once established. In ideal growing conditions, it will flower several times in a year. Feed regularly with a controlled release fertilizer and compost. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Leaf Description |
| Large, thick, evergreen, 25 - 70 long, 10 - 30 cm wide, with petioles that are up to 1 m long, arranged in two ranks producing a fan-shaped crown. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers emerge one at a time from the spathe. They consist of three sepals and three petals, two of which join to form an arrow-like nectary. |
| Fruit Description |
| A hard, woody capsule that splits from the apex in summer. Seeds are round. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
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