Leaves are somewhat similar in overall shape with a bit more rounded at the tips and relatively wider overall... and much larger of course. One of the common names for Strelitzia nicolai is white bird of paradise, which of course is also the common name for Strelitzia alba. © 2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands S. reginae is very well known, and arguably the most common species (picture above). This plant eventually forms wonderfully stacked leaves in a neat, perfectly two dimensional plane for an incredibly ornamental effect. Strelitzia nicolai, the giant bird of paradise, is the second most commonly grown species and is a much larger plant than Strelitzia reginae, growing up to 30 feet tall and eventually growing into a massive shrub up to 20 feet in diameter. Despite their tolerance for neglect, they do respond well to regular fertilization and will certainly flower more reliably if grown in rich acidic soils with a consistent application of balanced fertilizer (most recommend 10-10-10). Each Anther has 2-theca (2 pollen sacs) that run parallel to each other. This tree often forms dense clumps of plants. Svetloba: Z ahtevam zelo svetlo mesto z nekaj urami direktne sončne svetlobe. Conservation: Nationak Status: L C (least concern). The wind often tears the leaves along the lines of smaller lateral veins (photo 883). The 2 lowest of the 3 cream to white or orange petal-like Sepals are erect. Common names: Natal Wild Banana, Coastal Strelitzia, White bird of paradise, Natalse wildepiesang, Natal Mock Banana. These can take a surprising amount of wind before the leaves will start shreding, however an exposed site, prone to constant wind would be best avoided. Monkeys, birds and the blue duiker feed on parts of the Flowers. Rarely offered. These plants may be toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Each smaller spathe contains its own flower. Assessed: 2005 (W. Foden and L. Potter). The petioles just continue on to a point. This large, sheath is up to 30cm long and encloses up to 5 smaller spathes. Read articles about: Bird Of Paradise, Strelitzias, Tropicals. (right, or below) Strelitzia reginae flower. It belongs to the plant family Strelitziaceae. my own Strelitzia juncea on left, Strelitzia reginae 'Mandella's Gold' on right; second two photos are of Strelitzias with little spoon-shaped leaves that I am assuming are immature Strelitzia junceas, but may indeed be some sort of 'in-between' form of Strelitzia reginae (or Strelitzia parvifolia as some call these plants). (right) As it emerges from the spathe (the lower 'beak) base of the first flower. All species of Strelitzia will develop large tuberous root systems that'll invade the pot within half a year. Slimy mucilage, produced within the large spathe enables the tightly packed flowers to emerge. It may be coloured). Most growers, however, simply divide mature plants to get more plants. It is a banana-like tree with True woody stems – unlike the wild banana (Ensete ventricosum), where the stems are not woody. White bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) and the classic orange bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) share similarities, family and even genus. While the Nicolai develops a deep green, blue leaf, the Alba leaf comes in a distinguishing lighter shade of green. It does not help, no doubt, that most plants in California identified as Strelitzia alba are indeed Strelitzia nicolai, and also that Strelitzia caudata is extremely rare in the U.S. (and I have never seen one in real life). Tropical Bird of Paradise: White vs. Orange. Back to the top Check out alternatives and read real reviews from real users. Fertilizer is applied as needed but in soils with some clay, frequent fertilization is not needed. S. alba): cette espèce a des feuilles oblongues et vert foncé, qui peuvent atteindre jusqu'à deux mètres de long. As the bird sits upon this stigma, which is very sticky, it gets covered with pollen and the flower is fertilized! plant labeled as Strelitzia alba in Huntington Gardens... no idea if it's a correct identification or not, though. (right, or third photo) Yellow-flowering form called 'Mandella's Gold', Strelitzia reginae 'Mandella's Gold' photos. The large distichous Leaves are up to 1,8m long. This article will introduce the reader to this fantastic plant with unique and curious flowers that say 'tropics' just about as well as any flower on the planet. by Geoff Stein (palmbob) January 4, 2009. Some Strelitzias have leaves that shrink to paddle-shaped leaf blades but maintain that characteristic on to maturity. The larger species have less-colorful flowers, but they still look like bird heads, only without the necks. This plant is my favorite Strelitzia because I love weird plants. (Mar–Jul). The smaller plants are more drought-tolerant than the larger ones, and Strelitzia juncea is probably the most drought-tolerant of all (presumably due to the lack of transpiration from its ‘leafless' leaves). Leaves of these indoor plants develop a weird ultra-dark green coloration and I have never seen an indoor plant with flowers. Shop with Confidence. Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Ravenala madagascariensis, the 'Traveler's Palm'; young plant (photo by cactus_lover); flowers of Ravenala in third photo (photo by spaceman_spiff). Repotting . S. reginae is very well known, and arguably the most common species (picture above). Strelitzia juncea sans flowers- not too ornamental? These petals may be blue or white. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lotter, M.C. Fortunately these are pretty adaptable plants. nicolai (Regel & Körn) Maire & Weiller Strelitzia quensonii Lem. Leaves of this genus are listed as ‘possibly toxic' but few cases of actual toxicity exist in the literature, at least in small animal medicine. Categories: Bird Attracting Plants, Container Plants, Flowering, Hedges and Screens, House Plants / Indoor / Interior, Trees. (middle) Strelitzia nicolai flowers. There are three arborescent species: S. alba and its close relatives S. caudata and S. nicolai. The butterfly larvae of the Strelitzia Nightfighter (Moltena fiara) feed on the Leaves. These 5 smaller spathes grow out of a single large boat like spathe that surrounds the all 5 of the smaller spathes in the compound inflorescence. Strelitzia nicolai, commonly known as the giant white bird of paradise or wild banana, is a species of banana-like plants with erect woody stems reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft), and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m (11 ft).. Strelitzia alba subsp. Family: Strelitziaceae (Strelitzia or Crane flower family). (left) Leaves of normal Strelitzia reginae. Unlike Strelitzia alba, the inflorescence of Strelitzia nicolai is compound. They use silk to form a shelter by sticking leaves together. Media Kit | At the base of the petals is where most of the attractive nectar ‘bait' is located. Espèces et variétés. Some confuse this species with Ravenala madagascariensis, the traveler's tree. strelitzia alba vs strelitzia nicolai. Most spathes will develop up to 3 flowers or more and some flowers will develop yet another complete inflorescence from the spathe (called a double flower). Strelitzias are fairly tolerant of most soils, though extremely sandy, fast-draining soils in arid climates may necessitate increased irrigation frequency. This frost sensitive plant can be grown from seeds or suckers and has invasive roots. But here I am now in southern California where Strelitzias are one of the most commonly planted landscape plants. These banana-like plants with true stems may be low growing or tree-like. A single inflorescence will usually produce multiple flowers. The Full Story. The glossy grey green distichous (leaves, leaflets or flowers arranged alternatively in 2 opposite vertical rows) Leaves are large: up to 1,8 x 0,6m (photo 236). The channelled Petiole (leaf stalk) is sheathed at the base. There are five main species and varieties, although only Strelitzia Reginae and Strelitzia Nicolai are treated as houseplants. It is best to give any Strelitzia grown indoors as much light as possible, and move it outdoors for as much of the year as possible to keep it healthy. Strelitzia T… Tour | Some grow these plants as indoor or houseplants and I have seen Strelitzia nicolai frequently used in this fashion. I personally prefer to pull out old flowers and leaves, if possible, rather than cutting as this leaves less bulk and width of the clump and keeps the overall plant looking much cleaner. Petals surround the 5 long, thin Stamens and the Style. Both the S. reginae and S. juncea sport a blend of oranges, blues and reds, while the S. nicolai, S. alba and S. caudata species are mostly white or grey. It is made up of not 1 but up to 5 Spathes (a spathe is a bract – a modified specialised leaf that appears different from the calyx or corolla). However, this method is no recommended for plants without good, sturdy root systems, or plants in pots (as you may end up yanking the whole plant out of the pot or ground). Ever since I was young, bird of paradise plants intrigued me. December 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment. The inferior, trilocular Ovary has ovules attached to the centre of each locule. Zalivanje: Č ez poletje imam rada vseskozi vlažno zemljo, pozimi pa z zalivanjem počakaj, dokler se zemlja ne izsuÅ¡i. Though very closely related, this latter plant produces less-cupped (i.e., flatter) leaves that have longer petioles and are longer and somewhat less stiff themselves. Flowers are brilliantly colored with bright blue petals and orange sepals. Several years ago I stuck an artificial blossom in the planter to give this Bird an idea of what it was suppose to do, but, since it was an orange and blue one,the hint wasn't taken. Strelitzia nicolai is among the rare plants which contain bilirubin (waste product of animal metabolism colouring the faecies and urine and is the cause of discoloration in bruises). My best friend's dad had a small greenhouse in our home in northern New Mexico, one of the last climates you would ever expect to see a bird of paradise. Your email address will not be published. My guess is that a thorough study of these plants in the wild would reveal a continuous gradient of variations in some populations strengthening the argument for all these as being varieties of Strelitzia reginae. van Wyk, B. The flowers, which have a striking resemblance to tropical birds, are what gives the plant its unusual name. Description: Strelitzia, also known as bird of paradise, Latin name: Strelitzia reginae. Central Phoenix -- I have an Aloe Christmas Carol, ... read more, I just found one upside down on our patio and put him ... read more, Flocks to the suet feeder along with the dozen or so ... read more. There are more species of Strelitzia (S. alba and S. caudata), but as I mentioned already, I cannot tell them apart from Strelitzia nicolai. nicolai is in honour of the Russian Grand duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (1796-1855). Strelitzia reginae, aka common bird of paradise or crane flower, is the most common and familiar plant in this genus growing 3 to 6 feet tall depending on lighting, age and variety--some miniature forms don't even get that tall. Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) A crown of banana-like leaves atop a palm tree trunk, combined with huge, uniquely beautiful flowers, is deserving of the name, "Bird of Paradise tree." The anthers dehisce through longitudinal slits. Name derivation: Strelitzia – given to honour Queen Charlotte von Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), the wife of King George III of Britain. Protruding sepals are white and petals blue. The distinctive bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae or Strelizia nicolai) is one of the best known of all the tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana.Surprisingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. The Fruit is a hard woody capsule with 3 lobes. Featured Companies | It grows in cool moist sites, rich in leaf mould and in rocky places like cliff faces bordering the sea. The Style has 3 branches, each ending with a Stigma. The compound Inflorescence is up to 45cm long within a boat like Spathe that surrounds the whole inflorescence. Keep them away from buildings and paving. The base of the style and the ovary are enclosed in the receptacle (that expanded tip of the flower stalk from which the floral parts develop) (Sep–Feb++). The torn older leaves create an audible sound when the wind is blowing. You can get away with growing a 'Giant White' Bird of Paradise when it's small for 1-2 years, but once it starts reaching maturity, symptoms of improper conditions will show. It is made up of not 1 but up to 5 Spathes (a spathe is a bract – a modified specialised leaf that appears different from the calyx or corolla). Strelitzia is the Franxx piloted by Code:016 (Hiro) and Code:002 (Zero-Two). Lee Dutton Actor, Strelitzias are fairly tolerant of most soils, though extremely sandy, fast-draining soils in arid climates may necessitate increased irrigation frequency. Green and red-billed wood hoopoe are among the birds that eat the Fruit. The third upper petal is much smaller. The spathes are a deep, dark blue-green to purplish color. This opens above to allow the cream or white Sepals and the blue or mauve Petals to emerge. The hard woody 3-lobed (photo 985) Fruit is a dehiscent Capsule (photo 885) up to 7cm long. Taxonomy of Vascular Plants, The Macmillan Company, New York. Know also that you'll have to repot them into extra larger and deep pots. The other two are Strelitzia alba and Strelitzia caudata. The leaves of all these bird of paradise are thick and leathery, also unlike the thin, rubbery leaves of most true bananas. Birds and monkeys eat the orange Arils attached to the seeds. Tenth Printing 1965. This species is cold-sensitive, but tolerates frosts pretty well down into the mid 20s--but not colder. All Strelitzias prefer full sun though most will tolerate some shade. Publishing Print Matters (Pty) Ltd.  Noordhoek, Cape Town. Strelitzia Nicolai, på dansk 'Hvid paradisfugl', er opkaldt efter Nikolaj 1. af Rusland (1796 â 1855), der var russisk zar og konge af Polen.Den danske betegnelse er kommet af samme årsag som ved artssøsteren Strelitzia Reginae â på denne plante er blomsterne dog hvide. Petals split apart a bit to show the white pollen below and the pure white stigma pointing out like a needle; second photo is of older petals spread apart showing most pollen gone and the sticky stigma covered with debris. top view of flowers with white or orange sepals and blue petals, Double flowers are not unusual (left) Strelitzia juncea (middle) Strelitzia reginae, though normal with Strelitzia nicolai (right, or below). Previous Names: Strelitzia augusta, Strelitzia quensonii. Three white petaloid Sepals (photo 232) now protrude above the blue petals. The thick, tuberous, carrot-like roots can be dug up easily, and even hacked apart, and the plants will usually tolerate this abuse well, though flowering cycles may be set back a few years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (left) Strelitzia reginae flower forming a second flower. It is one of the most popular of all the larger public landscape species. If the pot is big enough It can grow to 2 m / 6.6 ft tall, with large, tough banana like leaves 25–70cm / 9.8–28in long. But they are also brilliantly colored with most of the species having a blue ‘tongue' arising from a dark green, blue or purple boat-shaped lower ‘bill' and a fan of orange, yellow or white petals that resemble the head feathers of some exotic birds (notably the crowned crane). Two of the 3 Petals touch to make an arrow-head shape. Do Not Sell My Personal Information] As the flowers die, the seeds mature and eventually fall to the earth from the dried dead flower. & Schmidt, E. 2018. & van Wyk, P. 1997 Field guide to Trees of Southern Africa, Struik, Cape Town. Trees of southern Africa, Balkema, Amsterdam, Cape Town. Strelitzia nicolai, White Bird of Paradise quantity. This helps to keep plants a constant diameter, as some clumps, left unattended, can grow into shrubs dozens of feet in diameter and quickly outgrow its intended position. However, each individual plant remains truly distichous forever, unlike how bananas grow. Strelitzia is a genus of 5 species of perennial plants, native to South Africa. The smooth, grey, true woody stem is marked with past leaf scars (photo 43). Our plants are covered by our 30 day guarantee. The blue ‘tongue' of the flower is the actual petals and contains the pollen (which can be seen if you spread apart the split down the middle of these petals.) Within the lower petals, is a channel containing both the stamens and the ovary. It contains hard black Seeds. As they mature the leaf blades become shorter and more paddle-like, eventually shrinking to itty bitty little ‘spoons' and finally disappearing completely. Gnojenje: M eÅ¡anica tekočega gnojila čez pomlad in poletje. The flowers look so bird-like that it's hard to believe its mere coincidence. Each of these smaller spathes contains a large single flower. However few will flower well in shady environments. Flowers are nearly identical as far as I can tell to those of Strelitzia reginae. With the help of Capterra, learn about Strelitzia, its features, pricing information, popular comparisons to other Florist products and more. Once the flower heads die, I find it is best to grab the petiole as low to the ground as possible and yank the dead inflorescence from the plant. Simply cutting off the dead flowers and leaves will leave a plant messy and much less-elegant looking eventually. And even without the flowers, it is an amazing landscape plant. These large and conspicuousFlowers are bisexual and zygomorphic (irregular flower with the corolla that is div… Strelitzia is a primarily South African genus, though Strelitzia alba is also found in Madagascar. Add to Wishlist. Strelitzia alba also known as white-flowered wild banana, or Cape wild banana is a plant of the Bird of Para juncea. Strelitzia juncea leaves (mature on left, immature on right). Others will even 'root-prune' around the edges of larger clumps, hacking at the plant a good few inches below the soil level all the way around the plant. (left) Strelitzia juncea flower. ; but looks great when flowering nicely; good plant for cactus gardens. This Tree, with its ringed woody stems, is up to 12m high. Strelitzia Caudata The Strelitzia Caudata is a slightly smaller form of the Strelitzia family. 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