Strelitzia

( strel - LITS - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This popularly-grown plant, commonly called Bird of Paradise or Crane Flower, is a perennial that needs light shade in the warmest climates of its zone range and regular water to perform well in the garden. These are evergreen plants and produce very unusual flower heads that emerge year-round. Large blossoms are orange, blue, and white and sit atop tall, stiff stems, and make dramatic additions to cut flower arrangements. They consist of a hard, boat-shaped bract called a spathe, which houses three outer sepals and three inner petals. Leaves are bluish-green and strappy. Use these plants as focal accents or anchors for mixed beds and borders, in mass plantings along drives or property borders, or in containers on patios or near pools. They are commonly included in wildlife and pollinator gardens, and can also be cultivated as indoor houseplants. Take care when planting Bird of Paradise in the garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Strelitzia Species and Varietals

The genus Strelitzia contains just five species, and is the type genus member of the plant family Strelitziaceae. Plants in this genus are related to those in Canna (Canna Lily), Heliconia (Bird of Paradise), Maranta (Prayer Plant), Musa (Banana), and Zingiber (True Ginger). The genus was named by Joseph Banks in honor of the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Bird of Paradise grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10-12 or Sunset growing zones 17, 20-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Strelitzia alba (White-Flowered Wild Banana, Cape Wild Banana, White Bird of Paradise, Witpiesang, Kaapse Wildepiesang, Piesangboom, Witpiesang)
These plants are native to the Western Cape of South Africa, where they grow in evergreen forested areas, gorges and on slopes along rivers. These frost-sensitive tropicals can reach up to 12 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide when mature, and produce stark-white flowers with some pink tones. Leaves are green and reach up to 3 to 6 feet long, arching outward. In containers, this species remains around 6 to 10 feet tall.

Strelitzia caudata (Mountain Strelitzia, Wild Banana, Transvaal Desert Banana, Mountain White Strelitzia, Bergwildepiesang, Transvaal Wildepiesang)
These plants are native to South Africa, and reach up to 26 feet tall when mature. In gardens, they remain smaller, topping out around 10 to 16 feet. Leaves are greyish-green in color, and plants typically will grow in dense clumps in montane forests and grassy slopes in their native range. Flowers are white and blue, held in blackish bracts.

Strelitzia nicolai (Wild Banana, Giant White Bird of Paradise, Natal Wild Banana, Giant Bird of Paradise, Natalse Wildepiesang, Kuswildepiesang, Witpiesang, Isigude, Igceba, Inkamanga, Ikhamanga, Isigude, Isigceba)
These plants produce erect woody stems that reach between 23 and 26 feet tall when plants are mature. Clumps can reach 11 feet wide. Foliage is grey-green and flowers are white with blue-purple 'tongues'. These plants are commonly grown as ornamentals, both out in the garden and in indoor spaces like greenhouses.

Strelitzia reginae (Crane Flower, Bird of Paradise, Isigude, Bird's Tongue Flower)
These evergreen perennial plants are native to South Africa, and is cultivated worldwide for its dramatic, colorful flowers. In cooler areas of the globe it is kept as a houseplant. Plants reach up to 6.5 feet tall, and spear-like to elongated paddle-shaped leaves are green. Flowers have orange sepals and purple-blue to white petals. Cultivars of this species include 'Mandela's Gold' (gold-yellow sepals and light blue petals), 'Kirstenbosch Gold' (similar to Mandela's Gold), 'Humilis' (also called 'Pygmaea', to 3 feet tall), 'Glauca' (with powdery blue-grey leaves), and 'Ovata' (with rounded leaf blades).

Strelitzia juncea (African Desert Banana, Rush-Leaved Strelitzia, Narrow-Leaved Bird of Paradise, Biesiestrelitzia, Kraanvoëlblom)
These plants are native to South Africa, and are the most frost-resistant and drought-tolerant in the genus. They are threatened in their native range with extinction due to over-harvesting for the plant nursery industry. Leaves are thin and greyish-green. Plants reach a mature size of 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity. Container-ready cultivar 'Brazil Dwarf' is compact and slow-growing compared to the species, reaching just 3 to 5 feet tall at maturity.

Caring for Strelitzia

Take care when planting Bird of Paradise in the garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Strelitzia is most commonly purchased as specimens from a reputable nursery. In the garden, they are best in a spot that can handle their clumping habit; if they are grown in too cramped of a space, they will quickly outgrow their bounds and encroach on other plants. Their root systems and crowns are very dense and strong, and they tend to outcompete their plant neighbors for nutrients and water. Install Bird of Paradise plants in full sun to partial shade; ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In areas with particularly warm or dry climates, make sure they get some protection from the sun's rays when temperatures are at their peak (typically between 2 and 3 PM). Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Bird of Paradise plants appreciate consistently moist soils.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Divide plants infrequently; crowded clumps will actually bloom the best. For instructions on how to divide Strelitzia plants, see the Propagation section below. These plants are damaged by frost and recovers slowly from frost damage.

Caring for Strelitzia in Containers
Great plants for containers, as long as they are large enough to accommodate these growing, clumping plants. For young plants, such as seedlings or developing pups, a 6-8 inch pot is adequate. For medium plants, use a 10-12 inch pot, and for mature plants, a 14-20 inch pot is best. Fill the container with well-draining soil amended with plenty of organic material, and ensure that it is well-draining. Apply a layer of mulch to the top of the soil surface to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water these plants regularly when they are planted in containers; Bird of Paradise appreciates consistently moist substrate, and container-grown plants need to be watered more often than those grown in the ground. Every few years, assess for health. These plants will need to be divided every so often, especially when grown in containers. For instructions on how to divide Strelitzia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Caring for Strelitzia Indoors
These plants are large, and therefore require some space indoors to spread as well as larger pots that most other indoor plants. At maturity, these plants will require a 5 to 7 gallon pot to continue thriving. Pots should have large drainage holes to allow excess water to flow away from the base of the plant. Ensure that soil is rich in organic material and well-draining, with a pH of between 5.0 and 6.5. A blend of 2 to 3 parts loam, 1 part perlite, and 1 part orchid bark is ideal. Place the Strelitzia in a spot in the home that is near a south or west-facing window for the ideal exposure. If it is getting too much sun, leaves will scorch and crisp, and in too low light, plants experience slow growth, thin or leggy stems, and a failure to produce leaf splits and flowers. It will thrive in a spot that stays between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Potted Bird of Paradise have higher watering needs than those grown in the ground. Container-grown Bird of Paradise will need to be divided and repotted every two to three years, and suckers will need to be separated from the parent plant. For instructions on how to successfully divide and replant Strelitzia, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

The best way to propagate Strelitzia, or Bird of Paradise, plants is by division of offsets, also called 'pups'. These pups form at the base of parent plants, and can be removed and replanted elsewhere. Although it is possible to propagate Bird of Paradise via harvesting and sowing seeds, as it takes a while for the seeds to germinate and resulting plants are of various characteristics, especially if seeds are harvested from a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Bird of Paradise plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Strelitzia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Identify a plant with a few pups at its base. Dig out the plant a bit in the area where the pup is, being careful to not damage any of the root system. Once the roots are exposed around the pup, cut it from the mother plant carefully with a clean, sharp knife.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your pups and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Propagating Strelitzia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Soak seeds in a bowl of room-temperature water form 24-48 hours before planting. After soaking, remove any orange, stringy material from the seeds. Strelitzia seeds will need to be scarified before sowing. To complete this process, get a clean, sharpened knife or a nail file, and nick or file down the seed. This will increase the rate of germination.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Strelitzia, or Bird of Paradise, produces offsets, or 'pups' towards the base of mature plants, which eventually grow into their own individual plants. These pups can be severed from the parent and replanted elsewhere.

Strelitzia seed pods form where flowers once bloomed.

Strelitzia seeds are dark brown to black in color and round, and typically have a fuzzy orange attachment.

Problems and Pests

Strelitzia, or Bird of Paradise, plants are considered to be generally resilient, though they can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape from time to time: