Strelitzia nicolai

    

Strelitzia nicolai

Common names

 White Bird-of-Paradise, Giant Bird-of-Paradise

Origin

Native of Natal Province, from East London northwards to Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu, Mozambique towards Zimbabwe, South Africa.

Ecology

Blooming time

They may bloom most times of the year depending where you live. The flowers are about 500mm long. The main plant can grow as big as 10-12m high. It will throw out many suckers over the years. The leaf is very large; they are shiny and grey-green in colour, which can grow up to 2m in length. The sepals have blue petals and consist of five purplish blue sheaths. It is recommended that a larger garden is needed. It

really comes to life in a Sub-Tropical garden or a Balinese-Thai setting, creating a lush tropical effect. The root system can be aggressive so do not put it too close to fence lines and garden paths. It is also grown in pots for household and office decoration, as the large leaves are spectacular indoors.

Culture

Strelitzia Nicolai are quite fast growers in pots or outside in the open. They will take part shade - full sun. The Nicolai is just about drought tolerant, does not like severe frost, it will take temperatures down to 8c. It tolerates salty coastal winds and salt spray up to a point. Fertilise regularly with a balanced slow release fertiliser for indoor pots. Outside fertilising requires a good well balanced fertiliser.

Humidity

 Will cope with lower humidity levels prefers medium humidity.

Category

Tropicals and Tender Perennials

Height

15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)

Sun Exposure

Sun to Partial Shade

Bloom Color

Dark Blue

Dark Purple/Black

White/Near White

Water

Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Soil pH requirements

6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)

Description

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." Related to the bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia regina ), this close cousin is a much larger plant forming huge clumps of stems to 30 feet in comparison to S. regina's 3 to 4 feet height.

The 6 - 8' leaves are grey-green and arranged in fans atop the trunks. Plants form clumps of several variably-sized trunks that may grow to 18' in width under optimal conditions. The inflorescence are composed of a dark blue bract, white sepals and bluish-purple "tongue". The entire "bird" can be as large as 7" high by 18" long and is typically held just above the point where the leaf fan emerges from the trunk. Flowers are followed by triangular seed capsules.

The foliage on this plant will typically die back in areas with a hard frost, though the plant itself can be kept alive as far as zone 8a with a good mulch. With additional protection, you may be able to grow it in the ground even further north. Any time it dies back to the ground however, the plant basically has to restart its growth - so flowering is very unlikely this way. Only mature plants typically flower, so you must pot the plant up if you live above zone 9-10.

Uses

The interesting flowers are white with a dark blue tongue. White Bird-of-Paradise is ideal for entranceways for a dramatic effect or for use at poolside. Plants are not messy but ragged leaves should be periodically removed for a tidy appearance. This is a large plant and should be situated accordingly.