Strelitzia reginae

I went to the garden centre yesterday for an Alocasia, and was delighted that they had the silver dragon Alocasia, which isn't that common apparently, so I bought it.

Anyway, my son had his eye on this other plant too. It was about 12" tall, with nice foliage, the label said Strelitzia Reginae. I knew nothing about this plant and was a little, should I or shouldn't I, as I popped it in the trolley.

When I got home I researched it and was stunned. These things get huge!! Another name is the bird of paradise plant because of the striking funny odd shaped flowers, though apparently it is mega rare for them to flower indoors.

Has anyone got one of these, with pictures preferably. They really are beautiful, let's see some of your indoor monsters!!

 

I have some small ones, reginae only get to about 3ft on average.
Now, you need to get @pete to put his photos up again...

 

Hi. They can get tall, but there are different heights. Mine is about 20 years old and about a meter or so tall. They typically don't bloom until five+ years old.




@pete is your best bet for advice.

 

Well that's a relief then, I believe I was getting mixed up with the Strelitzia Nicolai, which does get huge. My Reginae should stay pretty manageable then, phew!

 

They can get quite big but not as big as S. Nicolai, which is the big one.
Not indoors, but outside.
Strelitzia reginae.

 

I wouldn't have thought you could keep them outside, even in your milder Kent. Do you have to treat them like musa basjoo in winter and chop them back and cover the base? And what's that large cactus looking plant in the corner?

 

Here is an S nicholai from my friend's second story balcony ..




I had one but gave it away to our friend on a farm!

 

I bought a S. Nicolai last year only really as a foliage plant.
It will go outside for the summer again.

 

I put a tempory structure over it in winter, they need to be just frost free not any great amount of heat required, but are slow growing.
The plant in the corner is Agave americana.

 

So where is the S nicholai?

 

In his photo above I think @Victoria .

i have the same strelitzia as @pete and bring it indoors for the winter so we can enjoy the flowers. It goes outside again once flowering is over and nightime temps are 5+ and I keep it out of the worst of the winds.

Mine is an offcut from a friend whose plant was bursting out of its pot. Not little tho. It's already outgrowing its 60cm pot and I have little desire to let it get bigger.

 

Its in a pot in my conservatory ATM, its fairly easy to accommodate inside as its only about 3 ft tall, but will get too big at some stage.

 

Ah ha, in the Conservatory behind the Agave ... in the picture, I can't see into.

Mine blooms all year long living outside permanently.

 

Interesting @Victoria I shall try feeding mine a bit more then and see if it flowers more this year. I've only had it 2 winters so maybelast summer it was settlig in.

 

I have never fed mine. It is in red clay. How old is yours, because it takes them years to flower. I think they also like "cramped spaces".