What is the best way to look after a “bird of paradise” plant?
Mrs E Stevens, Grantham, Lincs You need patience and a strong back for this one. Strelitzia reginae, a native of South Africa, is not hardy here in Britain, but grows well in a conservatory. After four years it will flower annually (the flowers really do look like an exotic bird’s plumed head) in late winter. In time, strelitzias become vast plants, and need plenty of space. My 20-year-old plant – grown from seed by my mother – now occupies a 2ft 6in tall, 18in diameter pot, with its feet in John Innes no. 2 compost. Its total height is more than 5ft, its “wing span” at least 4ft, and each leaf is about 18in long. The pot stands on a little wheeled trolley. To flower annually, strelitzia seems to need to go outside for the summer – hence the trolley. It is not a sun-lover and dislikes the arid heat of the conservatory in summer. However, it dislikes soggy, cold autumn outside even more, and should be returned to its winter quarters by late September. Strelitzia makes a dramatic and won
