Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia reginae

• Position: full light (with shade from hot sun)
• Soil: loam-based potting compost (John Innes No3)
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: February to May
• Flower colour: bright-orange and midnight-blue
• Other features: exotic cut-flowers; takes four or more years to flower from seed
• Hardiness: tender
  
  Spectacular, bright orange and midnight-blue flowers resembling the face of a colourful crane surrounded by paddle-shaped, emerald-green leaves. This beautiful bird of paradise makes an exotic house-plant for a bright, well-lit room. During the summer months plunge container-grown specimens in the middle of a sunny border to create an instant tropical effect.
  
  
• Garden care: During the growing season water regularly and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each month. Water sparingly in winter and top-dress each spring.
  
  All our Strelitzias are grown under cover in the winter months by our specialist supplier in Sicily so the leaves are as perfect as can be for this time of year. As the new leaves appear throughout the growing season, the old leaves become shredded and can be trimmed off. This is completely normal and should not cause any concern. The plants should be potted into a larger pot and left outside from May to September and kept in a greenhouse or conservatory from October through to April.

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