One of the most popular ornamentals around the world the sturdy herbaceous perennial Strelitzia reginae is a spectacular addition to any garden, flowering from mid-May to mid-August with its famously attractive orange blooms and grey green foliage, it’s a must for any floral arranger. | |
| At a mature height and spread of 1.5 by 2 meters this gem of a plant is Indigenous to South Africa and occurs along Kwazulu Natal (of which it is the floral emblem) and the Eastern Cape. S. reginae is commonly known as the Bird of paradise or Crane flower and loves the full sun. These plants do well across the country, can be used as water wise or low maintenance specimens. |
| Though slow growers, in larger gardens these are show stoppers when planted en masse and attract a variety of different insects and birds. They complement a wildlife or indigenous garden brilliantly and make for great focal or container plants in smaller gardens. |  |
| A number of different varieties are available including a smaller yellow-flowering form named S. reginae ’Mandela’s Gold’ are also available. A few other species include the indigenous tree form Strelitzia nicolai and S. juncea with sword like upright cylindrical leaves. | |
Did you know? S. reginae is so widely planted in Los Angeles that it has come to be regarded as that city’s floral emblem. | Did you know? The specific name reginae means ‘of the queen’ in Latin and Strelitzia was named in honour of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz wife of King George III. |
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Strelitzia Reginae
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