bird of paradise flower, canna-leaved strelitzia, crane flower
An evergreen perennial to 1.5m, forming a clump of long-stalked, oblong, grey-green leaves; orange and blue flowers emerge in succession from a beak-like spathe
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost, in a large container, in full light with shade from hot sun. During growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Top dress annually and repot every second year. Water sparingly in winter and ventilate when temperatures exceed 20°C. Plants may take a few years to bloom and will only do so if given adequate levels of light and feed. They will generally flower better if slightly pot-bound. See Strelitzia cultivation
Propagate by division of rooted suckers in spring. Although you can sow from seed in March to April, they have a very thick coating and will need to prepared by soaking prior to sowing
No pruning required
May be susceptible to scale insects, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
Generally disease-free
