Strelitzia juncea - Spoon-leaved Bird of Paradise Seeds - Rare Indigenous Flowering Shrub - NEW

Strelitzia is a genus of five species of perennial plants, indigenous to South Africa. The name Strelitzia was given to honour Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England. She was from the house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower, because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the bird of paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower.

The flowers are ideal for cut flowers and last up to 20 days in a vase. They can all be grown in large pots or tubs but will require regular feeding and irrigation. There are three tree-like Strelitzia species Strelitzia alba, Strelitzia caudata and Strelitzia nicolai. The other two species Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia juncea are shrub-like tufted clump-forming species. In 1994 Kirstenbosch released a yellow variety of Strelitzia reginae which in 1996 was named Mandela’s Gold in honour of Nelson Mandela. Strelitzias are easy plants to grow in the garden. Plants do well in full sun to semi-shade, love a rich loamy soil and plenty of water throughout the year. They respond well to regular feeding with a slow release fertilizer and compost. They are however very tolerant plants and will thrive in most soils and can survive with very little water once established. The plants are also wind resistant and grow well in coastal gardens. Strelitzias are sensitive to cold and would need a sheltered position in areas with frost as the flowers and leaves are often damaged by frost. In very cold climates it is better to grow them in pots that could be moved indoors when freezing temperatures are expected.

Strelitzia juncea commonly known as Narrow-leaved Bird of Paradise or Spoon-leaved Bird of Paradise is a striking feature plant with upright needle-like leaves, growing from 1 to 2 m in height and producing large orange or yellow flowers borne on long, cylindrical scapes from autumn to spring. Strelitzia juncea does not multiply by suckering from the base of the stem, but subdivision takes place between the middle leaves of each fan. The species is slow growing and takes 3-4 years to flower. Grown under ideal conditions Strelitzia juncea is floriferous and long-lived. Although the leaves are very different, flowers resemble those of the more commonly cultivated Strelitzia reginae. Provided it is grown in a well-drained soil, Strelitzia juncea adapts well to a high rainfall but requires full sun to flower well. This species can withstand light frost. As a garden subject Strelitzia juncea is an ideal accent plant or planted to form a bold group which requires little attention.