The sepals show a long, gradual taper with the lowest one being keeled and boat-shaped towards the base. There are 3 tree species in the RSA. Fertilizer is applied as needed but in soils with some clay, frequent fertilization is not needed. Once the flower heads die, I find it is best to grab the petiole as low to the ground as possible and yank the dead inflorescence from the plant. van Wyk, B. The Style has 3 branches, each ending with a Stigma. The odds are strongly in favor of any very large greenish NOID Strelitzia being a nicolai: alba seems to be rarer both in cultivation and in the wild. However few will flower well in shady environments. Previous Names: Strelitzia augusta, Strelitzia quensonii. Strelitzia nicolai , winner of the Subjunctive Big-Leaf Challenge 2007. Strelitzia nicolai is an eyecatching evergreen, effective throughout the year and is useful for creating a lush, tropical effect. (right) Nursery-grown giant birds of paradise. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com Terms of Use, Rules, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy. During intense winds the leaves sometimes split along these veins, but for the most part, this plant is extremely wind tolerant and remains in excellent condition despite high winds and inclement weather. It is made up of not 1 but up to 5 Spathes (a spathe is a bract – a modified specialised leaf that appears different from the calyx or corolla). Pooley’s Trees of eastern South Africa. Dry Leaves serve as binding agents for hut building and fish kraals. Tour | The Tree also affords protection for birds. These large and conspicuousFlowers are bisexual and zygomorphic (irregular flower with the corolla that is div… The large, lower 2 petals converge and touch but remain separate and are not fused. This helps to keep plants a constant diameter, as some clumps, left unattended, can grow into shrubs dozens of feet in diameter and quickly outgrow its intended position. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. A study by Darlington & Wylie (1955) has demonstrated that Strelitzia alba is the only Strelitzia with a different number of somatic chromosomes (2n = 22) compared to the rest in southern Africa (2n = 14). Each smaller spathe contains its own flower. Unlike Strelitzia alba, the inflorescence of Strelitzia nicolai is compound. The flower anatomy is not simply attractive, but functional as well. This plant is my favorite Strelitzia because I love weird plants. The flowers look so bird-like that it's hard to believe its mere coincidence. This tree is common in dune bush. Featured Companies | These can take a surprising amount of wind before the leaves will start shreding, however an exposed site, prone to constant wind would be best avoided. Heliconia alba (basionym), Heliconia augusta, Strelitzia alba subsp. Diferencias entre Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia alba y Strelitzia nicolai Hola German, Aunque no tengo una referencia para saber la altura de tu Strelitzia por la forma de las hojas es una S. nicolai o una alba (se diferencian bien cuando florecen). Additionally it appears to be the most drought-tolerant species and so it suits my desert landscaping the best. With the help of Capterra, learn about Strelitzia, its features, pricing information, popular comparisons to other Florist products and more. Description: Strelitzia, also known as bird of paradise, Latin name: Strelitzia reginae. Add to cart. Strelitzia nicolai , commonly known as the giant white bird of paradise or wild banana , is a species of banana -like plants with erect woody stems reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft) and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m … nicolai is in honour of the Russian Grand duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (1796-1855). Old colourless leaves are untidy and hang down. This keeps the plants relatively neat and tidy over time. Strelitzia T… This frost sensitive plant can be grown from seeds or suckers and has invasive roots. Protruding sepals are white and petals blue. Tree frogs hibernate at the base of the big Leaf stalks. Tanto S. alba como nicola (la que suelen vender es nicolai aunque muchas veces esta etiquetada como alba/augusta) tiene las hojas verdes y mas anchas, parecidas en la forma a las de un banano Strelitzia alba … (middle) A narrower-leaved version, folded in a bit due to the dry climate. The anthers dehisce through longitudinal slits. You can get away with growing a 'Giant White' Bird of Paradise when it's small for 1-2 years, but once it starts reaching maturity, symptoms of improper conditions will show. This article will introduce the reader to this fantastic plant with unique and curious flowers that say 'tropics' just about as well as any flower on the planet. Each Anther has 2-theca (2 pollen sacs) that run parallel to each other. I never imagined I would live somewhere this plant would be so commonplace I would hardly ever give them a second look. (right, or third photo) Yellow-flowering form called 'Mandella's Gold', Strelitzia reginae 'Mandella's Gold' photos. Slimy mucilage, produced within the large spathe enables the tightly packed flowers to emerge. The compound Inflorescence is up to 45cm long within a boat like Spathe that surrounds the whole inflorescence. This opens above to allow the cream or white Sepals and the blue or mauve Petals to emerge. As the bird sits upon this stigma, which is very sticky, it gets covered with pollen and the flower is fertilized! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They have multi-colored spathes of blue-green and red, often with various other colors like pink, orange, vermillion, white, lime green, yellow etc. White Bird of Paradise -- Strelitzia nicolai or Strelitzia alba I have mothered this plant for eight years, and this is the first time it's bloomed. (right, or below) Strelitzia reginae flower. But the overall shape is still quite bird-like and easily recognizable as a bird of paradise. The large Seeds have an orange aril (an appendage or outer covering of a seed and may appear as a pulpy covering which develops from a stalk, the funiculus, connecting an ovule or a seed with the placenta). As mentioned above, these are relatively drought-tolerant plants only requiring regular watering in desert climates. An adult Strelitzia reginae plant in full flower looks as if there were a several birds hidden in the foliage craning their necks just above the leaves and looking about in all directions. It may be coloured). Each seed has a bright orange Aril (an appendage or outer covering of a seed that may appear as a pulpy covering – photo 01) with a tuft of hair that covers or is attached to the seed. Taxonomy of Vascular Plants, The Macmillan Company, New York. However, each individual plant remains truly distichous forever, unlike how bananas grow. A large, evergreen, paddle-leaf shaped perennial which produces white and pale blue bird shaped flowers sitting in a dark purple- black bract. This is also known as the rush bird of paradise, narrow-leaved bird of paradise and african desert banana. Your email address will not be published. The seeds are supposedly more toxic and will cause vomiting if ingested. We even send you a picture of your plants before they ship. Mission | Fortunately these are pretty adaptable plants. At the base of the petals is where most of the attractive nectar ‘bait' is located. Strelitzia is the Franxx piloted by Code:016 (Hiro) and Code:002 (Zero-Two). Strelitzia Apus is the result of Strelitzia fusing with the Star Entity, that was weaponized by APE/VIRM after taking it from the Klaxosaurs. The Fruit is a hard woody capsule with 3 lobes. Know also that you'll have to repot them into extra larger and deep pots. S. alba): cette espèce a des feuilles oblongues et vert foncé, qui peuvent atteindre jusqu'à deux mètres de long. strelitzia alba vs strelitzia nicolai. This ‘species' is a bit of taxonomic puzzle as it is described on various internet sites with nearly equal frequencies as either its own species , as a variety of Strelitzia reginae, or as Strelitzia parvifolia var. Do Not Sell My Personal Information] Name derivation: Strelitzia – given to honour Queen Charlotte von Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), the wife of King George III of Britain. It grows in cool moist sites, rich in leaf mould and in rocky places like cliff faces bordering the sea. Publishing Print Matters (Pty) Ltd.  Noordhoek, Cape Town. Conservation: Nationak Status: L C (least concern). S. reginae is very well known, and arguably the most common species (picture above). However that is only my guess. © 2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands While the Nicolai develops a deep green, blue leaf, the Alba leaf comes in a distinguishing lighter shade of green. (left) Exceptionally nice clump of Strelitzia reginae (photo by mustangman826). Opis Strelitzia Nicolai ‘Alba’ NEGA. It belongs to the plant family Strelitziaceae. The channelled Petiole (leaf stalk) is sheathed at the base. Strelitzia alba also known as white-flowered wild banana, or Cape wild banana is a plant of the Bird of Para Veterinarian and Exotic Plant Lover... and obsessive, compulsive collector of all oddball tropical and desert plants. ; but looks great when flowering nicely; good plant for cactus gardens. The tree can withstand strong, salt laden winds. Pruning the smaller Strelitzias involves cutting or pulling dead leaves and flowers as close to the ground as possible, though I often see large public landscaped plants given 'hurricane cuts', where all the outer growht was cut down to around six inches above ground level, leaving only a narrow 'shuttle-cock' growth of leaves and flowers in the center. Flowers of these two species are similar, but traveler's tree flowers have lime-green spathes, no blue tongues and the sepals are a pale yellowy color. The glossy grey green distichous (leaves, leaflets or flowers arranged alternatively in 2 opposite vertical rows) Leaves are large: up to 1,8 x 0,6m (photo 236). Strelitzia alba Conservation status Least Concern Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Clade: Commelinids Order: Zingiberales Family: Strelitziaceae Genus: Strelitzia Species: S. alba Binomial name Strelitzia alba Skeels Synonyms Heliconia alba L.f. Heliconia augusta Salisb. Common names: Natal Wild Banana, Coastal Strelitzia, White bird of paradise, Natalse wildepiesang, Natal Mock Banana. Strelitzia nicolai is among the rare plants which contain bilirubin (waste product of animal metabolism colouring the faecies and urine and is the cause of discoloration in bruises). Strelitzia juncea leaves are ‘paddle-less' once the plant is mature, leaving just pointed spikes. There are 5 thin Stamens. Flowers are nearly identical as far as I can tell to those of Strelitzia reginae. Leaves are bright green to blue green, leathery and are somewhat boat-shaped with prominent parallel veins. The wind often tears the leaves along the lines of smaller lateral veins (photo 883). This Tree, with its ringed woody stems, is up to 12m high. Within the lower petals, is a channel containing both the stamens and the ovary. Categories: Bird Attracting Plants, Container Plants, Flowering, Hedges and Screens, House Plants / Indoor / Interior, Trees. These flowers are about 2 or 3 times the size of Streliztia reginae flowers with pale blue petals and pure white sepals. Here the colour of the sheathing spathe around the individual flowers is ruby-red to dark blue. Strelitzia nicolai is also quite similar to two other species of Strelitzia, S. alba and S. caudata, and frankly I still cannot tell them apart despite reading a few descriptions that try to clear up their differences. The large Leaves, in 2 opposite vertical rows, are sheathing at the base. S. reginae is very well known, and arguably the most common species (picture above). Strelitzias are fairly tolerant of most soils, though extremely sandy, fast-draining soils in arid climates may necessitate increased irrigation frequency. Espèces et variétés. The large distichous Leaves are up to 1,8m long. But here I am now in southern California where Strelitzias are one of the most commonly planted landscape plants. Green and red-billed wood hoopoe are among the birds that eat the Fruit. Leaves of this genus are listed as ‘possibly toxic' but few cases of actual toxicity exist in the literature, at least in small animal medicine. The distinctive bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae or Strelizia nicolai) is one of the best known of all the tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana.Surprisingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. Back to the top Strelitzia angusta D.Dietr. The bird of paradise (Strelitzia species) is an exotic and visually stunning plant originally native to southern Africa that is now a popular houseplant.It produces large leaves similar to banana leaves and brightly colored flowers from the stem. I personally prefer to pull out old flowers and leaves, if possible, rather than cutting as this leaves less bulk and width of the clump and keeps the overall plant looking much cleaner. Each smaller spathe contains its own flower. Zalivanje: Č ez poletje imam rada vseskozi vlažno zemljo, pozimi pa z zalivanjem počakaj, dokler se zemlja ne izsuÅ¡i. Both the S. reginae and S. juncea sport a blend of oranges, blues and reds, while the S. nicolai, S. alba and S. caudata species are mostly white or grey. The thick, tuberous, carrot-like roots can be dug up easily, and even hacked apart, and the plants will usually tolerate this abuse well, though flowering cycles may be set back a few years. Sadly this species is even more cold sensitive and I cannot get one to survive in my climate here in inland Los Angeles. There are five main species and varieties, although only Strelitzia Reginae and Strelitzia Nicolai are treated as houseplants. Keeping ahead on pruning is important as unattended clumps of Strelitzia get very messy and somewhat unsightly, and are very difficult to prune once they form a large, thick shrub. Add to Wishlist. The impressive and showy, zygomorphic Flowers arise from a maroon; boat shaped spathe (the bract or leaf surrounding a flower cluster or spadix. Strelitzia nicolai, the giant bird of paradise, is the second most commonly grown species and is a much larger plant than Strelitzia reginae, growing up to 30 feet tall and eventually growing into a massive shrub up to 20 feet in diameter. Some confuse this species with Ravenala madagascariensis, the traveler's tree. Strelitzia Nicolai, på dansk 'Hvid paradisfugl', er opkaldt efter Nikolaj 1. af Rusland (1796 â 1855), der var russisk zar og konge af Polen.Den danske betegnelse er kommet af samme årsag som ved artssøsteren Strelitzia Reginae â på denne plante er blomsterne dog hvide. & van Wyk, P. 1997 Field guide to Trees of Southern Africa, Struik, Cape Town. (middle) Strelitzia nicolai flowers. It is no wonder this plant says "Tropics." There are three arborescent species: S. alba and its close relatives S. caudata and S. nicolai. Contact Us | For simplicity I just refer to it as Strelitzia juncea but mostly likely the correct identification is as an extreme variety of Strelitzia reginae, while Strelitzia ‘parvifolia' is most likely in-between variety. Inside this are 3 mauve to blue, almost free Petals. Inflorescences are hardy and strong and make excellent cut flowers for arrangements and decorating. The torn older leaves create an audible sound when the wind is blowing. These 5 smallerspathes grow out of a single large boat like spathe that surrounds the all 5 of the smaller spathes in the compound inflorescence. You can read more about these plants on this website and maybe the differences will be more clear to you. Petals surround the 5 long, thin Stamens and the Style. One of the common names for Strelitzia nicolai is white bird of paradise, which of course is also the common name for Strelitzia alba. These trees are associated with evergreen coastal forests. It can be found at and to the east of East London and northwards including Richards Bay, Swaziland and the extreme south of Mozambique. Unlike the hardier Strelitzia reginaes, the leaves of this species are quite susceptible to wind and often become tattered to shreds in areas with little protection. Central Phoenix -- I have an Aloe Christmas Carol, ... read more, I just found one upside down on our patio and put him ... read more, Flocks to the suet feeder along with the dozen or so ... read more. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of Southern Africa, edn 3. Lawrence, G. H. M, 1951. It is best to give any Strelitzia grown indoors as much light as possible, and move it outdoors for as much of the year as possible to keep it healthy. Ever since I was young, bird of paradise plants intrigued me. There are more species of Strelitzia (S. alba and S. caudata), but as I mentioned already, I cannot tell them apart from Strelitzia nicolai. Two of the 3 Petals touch to make an arrow-head shape. The sound of the wind through the leaves is distinctive. Repotting . My best friend's dad had a small greenhouse in our home in northern New Mexico, one of the last climates you would ever expect to see a bird of paradise. It is made up of not 1 but up to 5 Spathes (a spathe is a bract – a modified specialised leaf that appears different from the calyx or corolla). Also the spathes are often far too sticky from nectar and pollen adhesives to be convenient for use in the flower trade. Keep them away from buildings and paving. (left) Leaves of normal Strelitzia reginae. If the pot is big enough It can grow to 2 m / 6.6 ft tall, with large, tough banana like leaves 25–70cm / 9.8–28in long. Some grow these plants as indoor or houseplants and I have seen Strelitzia nicolai frequently used in this fashion. They use silk to form a shelter by sticking leaves together. The leaves of all these bird of paradise are thick and leathery, also unlike the thin, rubbery leaves of most true bananas. The third upper petal is much smaller and contains a long acting nectary at its base. And of course it's still considered a collector's item. Media Kit | nicolai (Regel & Körn) Maire & Weiller Strelitzia quensonii Lem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_nicolai, http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/plants/strelitziaceae/strelitzia_nicolai.htm, http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strelitznichol.htm, http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=3968-4, http://posa.sanbi.org/flora/browse.php?src=SP, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_I_of_Russia, Your email address will not be published. In their native South Africa these are also known as crane flowers, as they resemble the heads of the crowned crane. These 5 smaller spathes grow out of a single large boat like spathe that surrounds the all 5 of the smaller spathes in the compound inflorescence. These petals may be blue or white. Leaves are somewhat similar in overall shape with a bit more rounded at the tips and relatively wider overall... and much larger of course. Advertise | It can be used to offset hard landscaping, buildings and pools etc. The 2 lowest of the 3 cream to white or orange petal-like Sepals are erect. I don't know much about its cold tolerance, but I would not be surprised to discover it is the most resistant to frost damage, as the leaves are this genera's weakness when it comes to frost, and this plant really doesn't have leaves. However, this method is no recommended for plants without good, sturdy root systems, or plants in pots (as you may end up yanking the whole plant out of the pot or ground). Dry Seeds with their arils are ground and the flour produced is baked. It does not help, no doubt, that most plants in California identified as Strelitzia alba are indeed Strelitzia nicolai, and also that Strelitzia caudata is extremely rare in the U.S. (and I have never seen one in real life). (right, or below) Close-up of Strelitzia reginae leaf. The hard woody 3-lobed (photo 985) Fruit is a dehiscent Capsule (photo 885) up to 7cm long. Simply cutting off the dead flowers and leaves will leave a plant messy and much less-elegant looking eventually. This plant has peculiar leaves that have no leaf blade at all, at least once they mature. Still not sure about Strelitzia? Others will even 'root-prune' around the edges of larger clumps, hacking at the plant a good few inches below the soil level all the way around the plant. These banana-like plants with true stems may be low growing or tree-like. Leaves of this species are usually bright green to deep green though sometimes a bit blue-green. [ Home | (left) Strelitzia reginae flower forming a second flower. A variety called 'Mandella's Gold' has yellow sepals. Flowers can occur year round in the right climate though seem to prefer the warmest seasons. The 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)-long leaves are grey-green and arranged like a fan at the top of the stems, similar to Ravenala madagascariensis. Several years ago I stuck an artificial blossom in the planter to give this Bird an idea of what it was suppose to do, but, since it was an orange and blue one,the hint wasn't taken. When young, most Strelitzias grow in a distichous pattern (leaves in only two ranks/planes), but as older plants begin to offset, the overall effect is of leaves growing in all directions, particularly in the smaller species. The base of the style and the ovary are enclosed in the receptacle (that expanded tip of the flower stalk from which the floral parts develop) (Sep–Feb++). And even without the flowers, it is an amazing landscape plant. It also looks good contrasted with evergreen lawns and shrubs. Strelitzia juncea is the only other relatively commonly grown species of Strelitzia, at least here in the US, though it is still rare and pricey compared to the above two species. Strelitzia reginae is the most well known species and its flower is the most crane or bird-like. Zemlja: Običajna zemlja za sobne rastline. Pruning the larger species really requires one to keep up with things as these really can get of of control in a hurry. It is the flowers of this genus that attract the most attention. Then the bird proceeds onto the next flower, usually first alighting upon the stigma (that sticks out like a perch from the blue petals). It was so exotic and bizarre that I took some time to believe that such a plant could exist in nature. The butterfly larvae of the Strelitzia Nightfighter (Moltena fiara) feed on the Leaves. Tropical Bird of Paradise: White vs. Orange. Each of these smaller spathes contains a large single flower. (Mar–Jul). Read articles about: Bird Of Paradise, Strelitzias, Tropicals. Eventually these will require ladders to read the higher stems, and pruning will involve not just cutting away the lower leaves, but cleaning of the stems to give them a healthy, neat, smooth trunk. Is it a palm Tree Or Is It a Banana Tree. The smooth, grey, true woody stem is marked with past leaf scars (photo 43). The other two are Strelitzia alba and Strelitzia caudata. There is a plant listed as S alba in the Huntington gardens, and if that is accurate (and believe me, a huge percentage of plants in that garden are mislabeled), then perhaps one difference is S alba has longer, droopier leaves... but it's a pretty huge plant (about 20' tall) and otherwise its growth is identical to the common S … juncea. (middle) Close-up of flower. It is a banana-like tree with True woody stems – unlike the wild banana (Ensete ventricosum), where the stems are not woody. In ideal conditions the seeds take 1 to 2 months to germinate and another 4 to 5 years for a mature flowering plant to develop. Strelitzia is a genus of 5 species of perennial plants, native to South Africa. Despite their tolerance for neglect, they do respond well to regular fertilization and will certainly flower more reliably if grown in rich acidic soils with a consistent application of balanced fertilizer (most recommend 10-10-10). This species is cold-sensitive, but tolerates frosts pretty well down into the mid 20s--but not colder. The Giant Bird of Paradise is a stunning and hardy perennial with a strong architectural shape. December 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment. Our plants are covered by our 30 day guarantee. White bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) and the classic orange bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) share similarities, family and even genus. They are arrowhead shaped blades. The large and conspicuous individual Flowers are bisexual and zygomorphic (irregular flower with the corolla that is divisible into 2 equal halves in one plane only). This large, sheath is up to 30cm long and encloses up to 5 smaller spathes. It does not help, no doubt, that most plants in California identified as Strelitzia alba are indeed Strelitzia nicolai , and also that Strelitzia caudata is extremely rare in the U.S. (and I have never seen one in real life). Gnojenje: M eÅ¡anica tekočega gnojila čez pomlad in poletje. Monkeys, birds and the blue duiker feed on parts of the Flowers. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lotter, M.C. However I don't know if these plants survive for very long in such low light situations; the plants I see tend to be quite etiolated (stretched ) and look sort of weak. Birds and monkeys eat the orange Arils attached to the seeds. What is interesting as that as seedlings, these plants are identical to normal Strelitzia reginae, complete with the typical boat-shaped leaves. As they mature the leaf blades become shorter and more paddle-like, eventually shrinking to itty bitty little ‘spoons' and finally disappearing completely. The blue ‘tongue' of the flower is the actual petals and contains the pollen (which can be seen if you spread apart the split down the middle of these petals.) Each of these smaller spathes is at right angles to those above and below, having rotated around a central axis. Strelitzia Caudata The Strelitzia Caudata is a slightly smaller form of the Strelitzia family. Svetloba: Z ahtevam zelo svetlo mesto z nekaj urami direktne sončne svetlobe.