How to Enjoy Birds of Paradise (Stelitzia Reginae)

Fig.1 Bird Of Paradise

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:  
Bone meal
Greenhouse bed
Peat moss 
Potting soil
Shovel and or Pick
Water drip system or sprinklers
Sand
Sharp knife 
Soil amendments
Rooting hormone, (Roottone) 

My neighborhood is full of Bird of Paradises. We have the large size and they adorn our home's entrances and windows. There seem to be different blooms some are white and other seem to be yellow. Our gardeners trim them and keep them pretty for all of us to enjoy. 

These eight steps that show interesting facts about the Bird of Paradise plant. 

Step 1: Fig.1 shows a Bird of Paradise (Stelitzia reginae) flower which resemble brightly colored birds in flight and is also called a crane flower. The botanical pronunciation: strel-ITS-ia ree-JI-na
Step 2: Fig.2 show the reginae hides a corner of this building and this plant know as a evergreen perennials (a plant for all seasons) that can keep their leaves year round. These evergreen can be grown next to a building or even behind a bush as in this Fig.2 and fig.3 pictures. They can hide ugly features like utility closets, fire pipes, and ugly landscaping. Also fig.3 shows the leafy evergreen perennials all comes from one plant and are also placed behind a bush. Fig.4 shows a beautiful flower at the base of the plant behind low landscape.

Fig.2 Behind a bush

Fig.3 Three out of one plant

Fig.4 Behind low bushes

Step 3: Fig.5 shows the Bird of Paradise was originally grown in the eastern coastlines of southern Africa. The plant was introduced to the European in 1773. Under proper condition the plant will grow over six feet and half that side planted inside the house. The crane flower needs full sun but does well on coastal landscapes. Many Californians plant this Bird of Paradise by pools and it's not harmed by pool water.

Fig.5 Over 6 feet tall

Step 4: Fig.6 and fig.7 shows the flowers occurs multiple times a year and in ideal conditions can take up to three years to produce stunning flowers. Once the plant matures it will produces a hard sideways sheath called a spathe. The spathe resembles a "beak" of bird and the flower is strong enough to support the weight of several birds at once. When the Bird of Paradise is in bloom, three orange sepals stick up from the spathe, along with three blue petals that hold the nectar of the flower. The leaves are bushy and wide, growing up to 2 feet long and 12 inches in width.

Fig.6 Showmanship

Fig.7 Resembles head of a crane

Step 5: Fig.8 shows the Bird of Paradise can be mildly toxic for cats, dogs and people which would need to be consumed in fairly large amounts to affect the person or large pet.

Fig.8 Midly toxic

Step 6: Fig.8 shows that in neighborhood soil in Chino is kept moist through regular watering by irrigation lines and sprinklers. The Strelitzia reginae does well in almost any type of soil. The neighborhood have the fertilizer added to the water lines to keep the showy plant producing more flowers.

Fig.9 Watering

Step 7: Fig.10 and fig.11 shows the Strelitzia can be propagated from by division. When division is used the cutting of the plant will interrupt the blooms for a year, When new plants are removed choose young suckers by digging up old clumps and separating the underground rhizomes (tubers) with a sharp knife. Spring is the time for division, lift the plant from the ground and cut the rhizome into sections, making sure each section contains a fan (leaf) with roots.

Fig.10 Division

Fig.11 Leaf and root

Step 8: Fig.12 and fig.13 shows the plant are pollinated by local hummingbird, which use the "beak" on the flower as a perch. The weight of the bird on the "beak" opens it to release the pollen onto the bird's feet, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits.

Local hummingbird include the following: Archilocus Alexandri, Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus Sasin), Allerfs Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna), Black-chinned Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird (C. Costae)

Fig.12 The hummingbird

Fig.13 Close up

Fig.14 In their prime

1. Backyard Gardener: Bird of Paradise Information and Plant Care
2. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia)
3. The Wise Gardener: Fabulous Bird of Paradise
4. Strelitzia Reginae – Bird of Paradise
5. Clemson University: Bird of Paradise Information
6. Bird of Paradise—How to Grow Strelitzia
7. Strelitzia reginae
8. Bird of Paradise Flower
9. Additional Common Names: Crane Flower, Bird's Tongue Flower  

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