Strelitzia reginae
Common name: Bird of paradise · Crane flower
Strelitzia reginae is an evergreen perennial native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It forms clumps of stiff, banana-like leaves on long petioles and produces striking orange-and-blue flowers shaped like a bird's head. It is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental plants in the world, grown outdoors in frost-free climates and as a houseplant elsewhere.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to light shade
Water
Moderate; let topsoil dry between waterings
Soil
Rich, well-drained loam
Hardiness
Zones 10–12
Mature height
About 100–200 cm (3–6 ft)
Pet safe
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate by division of mature clumps in spring, ensuring each division has roots and shoots, though it dislikes disturbance and may take a season to recover. Fresh seed also germinates but takes several weeks to months.
Fun facts
- The genus was named in 1788 after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III.
- The flower is the official floral emblem of the City of Los Angeles.
- In South Africa, sunbirds pollinate the flowers by perching on the blue "tongue," which splits open and dusts their feet with pollen.
- Mature, slightly pot-bound plants bloom more reliably than those with room to spread.