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Strelitziaceae
Giant Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
Freedom and paradise.
- Family
- Strelitziaceae
- Genus
- Strelitzia
- Native to
- South Africa
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- Evergreen perennial
- Height
- 6-12 meters
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining
- Water
- Moderate to regular
- Hardiness
- 9b-12
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Did you know
- Unlike its orange relative, this species can grow into a tree up to 12 meters tall with banana-like leaves.
- It is named after Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, a patron of botany in the 19th century.
- The flower is pollinated by sunbirds that perch on the blue petals, which open under their weight.
- The leaves naturally split along their veins in wind, which is a protective adaptation, not damage.
- In its native South Africa, the plant is called 'Natal wild banana' due to its banana-like appearance.
Color meanings
0
Magnificence
1
Joy
2
Faithfulness
3
Freedom