Strelitzia reginae - Crane Flower, Bird of Paradise Seeds - Indigenous Flowering Shrub

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 reginae is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 1,5 m in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. Mature plants are very floriferous with flowers in autumn, winter and spring. The structure and pollination of the flowers are rather interesting. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges, is called the spathe. This is placed at right angles to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head. When the birds sit to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen.