Bird-of-Paradise

Strelitzia reginae Banks

streh-LITZ-ee-ah REGH-in-knee

Strelitziaceae

Explanation of name: As appearing in BA1, “Strelitzia Reginae: dedicated to Queen Charlotte Sophia, of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of George III.”

Natural range: South Africa

Recognition: Commonly cultivated Bird-of-Paradise with large blue and orange inflorescences. Plants without trunks, the large banana-like leaves often waxy,  rising from the base. Flowers more or less horizontal, large and showy, bilaterally symmetrical, emerging from a boat-shaped bract, with upright yellow sepals, and with 2 blue petals visible.

Landscape uses: Bright, colorful large shrub-sized perennials in containers, as specimen plants, or in clusters in sunny sites. Propagate by division or seed (4-8 weeks for germination according to source listed below).

Internet source: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strelitziareginae.htm

Note: Flowers in their natural habitat are pollinated by birds.