Strelitzia reginae ( bird of paradise, crane flower ), 10 seeds

Description: Strelitzia reginae, called bird of paradise, is probably one of the most well-known plants in the world. It is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 3 ½ to 4 feet in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The structure and pollination of the flowers are rather interesting. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges, is called the spathe. This is placed at right angles to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird’s head. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of 3 brilliant orange sepals and 3 bright blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the birds sit to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet with pollen. Sowing: Soak seeds in water or 3% hydrogen peroxide for 48 hours. ( Source nursery in S. Africa recommends soaking in fresh milk for 24 hours ). Remove orange fibre from the seed and sow in seed trays filled with a well-drained soil medium at a depth of 1 to 1½ times the size of the seed. A constant temperature of 25°C is most suitable for germination, as low temperatures retard germination. Seedlings should be a good size before being transplanted (two to three leaves) into a well-drained potting medium. Young plants are best grown in semi-shade, as the leaves tend to burn in direct sunlight. Regular repotting allows the young plant to develop rapidly. Restricting the root development retards growth. Germination can take several months.

Price: 6.75 USD

Location: Manassas, Virginia

End Time: 2024-10-26T21:29:32.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3 USD