Strelitzia reginae Banks – Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae Banks) is a herbaceous, evergreen plant of the family Strelitziaceae. It originates from South Africa, where it occurs naturally in the subtropical parts of the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal. Today, it is widely introduced and cultivated in many parts of the world – both in parks and gardens, as well as an indoor ornamental plant in cooler regions.

Strelitzia reginae Banks forms clumps of large, elliptic leaves with a gray-green coloration, resembling banana leaves. They arise from an underground rhizome and reach a height of 120 to 180 cm. The flowers appear on long, rigid peduncles rising above the foliage. A characteristic feature is the hard, greenish-pink spathe from which several flowers emerge in succession, each composed of bright orange sepals and blue-violet petals. Their distinctive shape resembles the head of an exotic bird – an image that gave rise to the popular name “bird of paradise.”

This species prefers warm, sunny to partially shaded sites and well-drained, fertile soil. Although it tolerates drought, for optimal development it requires moderate moisture and regular fertilization during the active growing season (spring–summer). In regions with lower temperatures, the plant is cultivated in containers that are brought indoors during winter, in a bright location at temperatures above 10°C.

Strelitzia reginae Banks is an excellent choice for exotic garden compositions, coastal landscapes, or as an accent near water features. It is also highly valued as a cut flower – the inflorescences are long-lasting and retain their decorative quality in a vase for up to two weeks. In addition to its ornamental value, the plant has ecological importance – in its natural habitat it is pollinated by small birds that transfer pollen as they perch on the flowers.

It should be noted that the seeds and fruits contain mildly toxic substances and should not be ingested.