The spectacular flower of the Bird from paradise, whose scientific name is Strelitzia reginae, is a perennial herbaceous plant that, without a doubt, will give us great satisfaction.
Its striking flowers will give a special touch to the place where we place it.
The Bird of Paradise grows to a height of approximately two meters. Its leaves are very large, oval, approximately 50cm long, grayish-green in color.
Its flowers, which emerge from the beak, are made up of three yellow sepals and three blue petals. Between five and eight flowers come out of each flower stem. It is a plant with abundant flowering, for several months a year. It is highly recommended to plant it in groups to have continuous flowers.
The care that the Bird of Paradise needs are the following:
- We will place it in a semi-shady place, where it does not receive direct sun.
- Watering should be weekly in spring and summer, and biweekly the rest of the year. It does not tolerate waterlogging. If we have it planted in the garden, once established, it will tolerate drought.
- We can pay it from March to October, with a universal fertilizer, following the manufacturer's recommendations.
- It resists weak frosts without problems (down to -3º if they last a short time). If this temperature is exceeded in winter, it should be stored indoors or in a greenhouse.
- It adapts to almost any type of soil, but prefers well-drained and calcareous soils.
- To bloom, it needs a temperature above ten degrees.
It is one of the plants that is most used as a cut flower, since its flowers last a long time.
It is not a plant that usually has problems or diseases, however, it can be attacked by mealybugs which must be eradicated with a specific product.
It reproduces by division of the bush or by direct sowing after previous soaking.
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More information - Tips for caring for outdoor plants
I would like to know if I can produce them under the open sky in a warm humid climate at 950 meters above sea level.
Hello Hugo.
Yes, without problem. If for whatever winter the temperature dropped to -1º even -2º, nothing serious would happen to Strelitzia; Maybe it would get a little ugly if it had been planted a short time, but nothing serious.
A greeting!
Thank you very much, I also naturally have Helioconias. and I would appreciate any recommendation for its cultivation and development.
I have a property in a warm humid climate with a small river all year round, as well as 3 almost permanent water sources and I would like to take advantage of it for this type of flowers or some others that are recommended for this climate. At this moment I am trying some fruit trees although the traditional planting is coffee: Greetings
Heliconias are tropical plants. They really like hot and humid weather. They grow well in full sun, but are also adapted to semi-shade.
Plants for your climate there are a lot. Do you like palm trees? If it is a frost-free climate you can put: Cocos nucifera, Roystonea regia, Archontophoenix, Dypsis ...
Very ornamental tropical trees you have the Delonix regia, Ceiba, Chorisia, Tabebuia, ...
Fruit trees: Musa sp (bananas), mango, avocado, soursop, ...
Greetings and have a nice weekend!
Thank you very much Monica. I appreciate the information and I will consider it to develop these crops. I would like information on how to start the sowing of birds of paradise, if it is by acquiring bushes or some roots, and the heliconia that I already have if it is advisable to apply some fertilizer to improve its development. I am using compost for other fruit trees: Greetings
Hello I wanted to know if it is by direct sowing how long it gives flowers
Hi Lilia.
From seed they take a long time, around 6-8 years, perhaps more depending on the care that is given, and especially the climate.
Good luck 🙂.