Strelitzia reginae, Bird of Paradise, Crane Lily , plant information for growing and its use in flower arranging. Long lasting and exotic, this is a favourite of Australian florists.See how they use Strelitzia in many of the editions of floral design magazine. Find out more here.

Strelitzia reginae  Common Name: Bird of Paradise, Crane Lily  Family: Strelitziaceae  Country of Origin: subtropical S. Africa  Description: To 3 feet, trunkless, clump-forming; leaves oblong-lanceolate, to  1.5 feet long, six inches wide, acute, glaucescent beneath, the blade sometimes  reduced; bracts green, edged with purple or red, to 8 inches long; flowers orange or yellow with dark blue tongue.  Frost Protection: Best if protected by an overhang. Damaged at 28° F Heat Tolerance: Looks greener with some  protection from full sun  Fertilizer:The Strelitzia Bird of Paradise likes frequent and heavy feedings Blooming Habits:  Blooms better in cold weather. .  To grow from seed, use seeds less than 6 month old, soak them for 24 hours before  planting. Seeds can take 6 months to germinate. Propagation:  Propagate your strelitzia by divisions. Since it blooms when crowded, divisions might  take several years to bloom. Commonly used as a cut flower in the florist trade. Can be grown as a   houseplant in a tub with a minimum night temperature of 50F.

Take at least 3cm (1") off all stems, making a slanted cut with a sharp knife. Make sure vases are very clean, and use fresh lukewarm water. Strip all  leaves below water level to avoid polluting the water. Always use proprietary flower food to feed flowers, encourage buds to open, and prevent bacteria  forming in the stems causing wilting. Avoid direct sunlight, heat, or draughts. Keep flowers away from fruit and remove faded flowers as they occur. Top up the water regularly and add flower food as necessary.  Hang the leaves upside down in a dry place. They will dry into twisted shapes of great beauty in a golden hue, and are wonderful to create rhythm in a design. The design shown  is called Fruit Flamee , using  strelitzia, a flax leaf, and fruit laid on a bed of foliage. Designed by Faith, it is simple but dramatic showing off the strelizia well and it would be a wonderful backpiece for a dessert table.

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