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Monday, July 26, 2010

Floria 2010 P8 - Bird of Paradise Flower at Heliconia Garden

Strelitzia reginae

The theme for Floria 2010 is Heliconia. At the Heliconia Garden, the Heliconia Society has put up a massive display of showy and spectacular flowers under the order of Zingiberales. Zingiberales has 8 families, namely:-

1. Cannaceae (Cannas)
2. Costaceae (Spiral Gingers)
3. Lowiaceae
4. Marantaceae (Arrowroot Family)
5. Musaceae (Bananas)
6. Strelitziaceae (Bird of Paradise)
7. Zingiberaceae (Gingers)
8. Heliconiaceae (Heliconias)

I have photographed quite a number of species and will be showcasing them one by one later as a single post is not enough to do justice on this fascinating group of exotic plants that are often associated with the humid Tropics and Tropical styled Gardens.

In this post, I start with Strelitzia which is a genus of 5 species of perennial plants that are native to South Africa. Strelitzias are often confused with Heliconias although they are from different families.

Strelitzias look like Birds of Paradise, the exotic birds with attractive plumage and estounding beauty native to the Maluku (Spice) Islands of Indonesia and Eastern Australia. Heliconias in turn look like Strelitzias, hence they are also called False Birds of Paradise. The common name for Strelitzia is Bird of Paradise Flower. It is also known as Crane Flower in South Africa.

Strelitzias are named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, birthplace of Charlotte, Queen Consort of King George III of the United Kingdom. (Source: Wikipedia).

In Los Angeles, strelitzias are extensively planted and regarded as the emblem of the city. Source: http://www.plantzafrica.com/ , this link.


Scientific name: Strelitzia nicolai Regel & K. Koch
Common name: White or Giant Bird of Paradise Flower, Wild Banana, Blue-and-white Strelitzia
Family: Strelitziaceae


The leaves are similar to banana leaves. Its flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence and pollinated by sunbirds.

“Floria 2010 P8 - Bird of Paradise Flower at Heliconia Garden”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on July 26th, 2010.


I think this is the dwarf version Strelitzia reginae
Common name: Bird of Paradise Flower, Crane Flower
Family: Strelitziaceae

Most of the plants in this garden has a display label but I can't find the name label of this plant. The display board beside the plant is an explanation about Strelitzias.


Bird of Paradise flowers are highly valued as cut flowers and in Malaysia, they are expensive, therefore not every florist carries their stock. It forms only 0.02 % of our total cut flowers production.

They thrive in the cool temperatures of the tropical highlands. In the lowlands of Malaysia, it is very difficult to get them to flower.

My next and final post on Floria 2010 will be on the outdoor corporate showcase gardens.


This is my entry for Today's Flowers # 103, a meme which opens every Sunday, 2pm GMT. My grateful thanks to Today's Flowers team members; Luiz Santili Jr, Denise in Virginia, Laerte Pupo and Sandy Carlson. To participate and view other gorgeous flowers around the world, click here.

37 comments:

  1. Hi Autumn Belle,

    Although these plants are common here I have never seen the whitish variety shown in your second photo.I think the dwarf variety would be good for small gardens.

    Your images are beautiful! What a treat to see these varieties in your post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello AutumnBelle

    I never realised that you could get different coloured ones and dwarf ones. When we grow them indoors it takes about 5 years for them to flower - is that the same length of time you have to wait aswell?

    :) Rosie

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  3. I've seen so many different colors of these plants. This one is very striking and beautiful shots.

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  4. strelitzia nicolai is a great plant for florida too! Its a little hardier to cold than reginae from what i can tell, but still dies back in freezes. Great photos!

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  5. Dear Autumn Belle, How exotic these blooms look and how wonderful they would be in an arrangement. They would indeed grace any drawing room with their spectacular beauty.

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  6. Your photographs are awesome, what gorgeous exotic flowers blooms!

    Thanks for sharing this feast for the eyes!

    Nancy

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  7. When I think of an exotic plant, this is the one that comes to mind. Birmingham Botanical Gardens grows these in their huge glass conservatory, and I've always admired them. They do look like tropical birds!

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  8. The white strelizia is very unusual, but I like the orange one better.

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  9. I had not realized there was more than one kind of bird of paradise flower! The white is really striking, but I think I prefer the traditional orange!

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  10. Strange -that now that you mentioned it, I have noticed so many heliconias growing wild everywhere along the streetsides and they tend to get "jungle" wherever they grow.
    Yet, they are not very well cultivated for their cut flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Autumn Belle,

    I love haleconias. Really! They are gorgeous. I planted many varieties in my Mom's garden a long time ago. They grew and bloomed like crazy and I had to keep pruning like crazy too.

    Thanks for putting my blog link on your side bar.

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  12. I LOVE that strelitzia. I had only seen orange ones until the Philly flower show. The white and the blue are spectacular. I look forward to these posts!

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  13. These heliconias are commonly grown here in our parks,I can find them anywhere!

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  14. I have seen all of them except the S. nicolai, i love it for larger spaced gardens. They look so elegant.

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  15. Thanks for giving so much information on Heliconia! It's really beautiful!

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  16. Beautiful plant! I have not seen the white one before, must be very rare. Bird of Paradise is one mighty proud looking plant! Thanks for the update and all the beautiful photos!

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  17. The white one grows huge, two storeys high. The orange one is more people sized. And there is another species, similar to the orange one, but with cylindrical reed shaped leaves. We have orange, white and the yellow Mandela's Gold.

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  18. I have never seen the white one but i have seen the orange one in California. They are very striking plants.

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  19. Autumn Belle, These exotic blooms are very aptly named!Beautiful photographs. Pam x

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  20. Not only your images are beautiful but the information in yours posts is very valuable. Well done once again.

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  21. Hello Autumn Belle - just had to stop by and see what exotics you have blooming. And these really are Paradise - especially the white one.

    Laura x

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  22. Your post here is very informative with such beautiful photos. Cant wait for your next one!

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  23. I simply love heliconias!! It's so easy to plant and its beautiful for the vase as well :)

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  24. hello Autumn Belle, quite spectacular photographs...

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  25. My Sexy Pink Heliconia is grown in a container, and doesnt flower. Any suggestions how to get it to flower. (My Rostrata is flowering very well though and has been through 3 blooms.)
    Thanks
    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sexy pink does not like a lot of watering and too much sun.

      Delete
  26. These BOD flowers are easily grown in the cooler climates of the highlands in Malaysia and rarely on the lowlands. I have only it at the Secret Garden of 1U and just recently came accross someone who is growing this in her home garden. I'll find out more from her.

    As I know, it takes about 2-4 years before the plant is mature enough to flower. When we buy the young plant from the nurseries, we usually do not know the age of the plant.

    For flowering to occur:
    The plant should be mature and the pot should be crowded. Therefore do not repot the plant before it flowers. Try using an organic liquid fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus content. Ensure that it gets more sun.

    ReplyDelete
  27. i am living in africa, zambia, for so many years and in my garden i have strelitzia gold. its version of strel. miniche with a beautiful yellow, noy orange flowers. its even shorter, than orange and also bushier. its comes from south africa and so so so beautiful! ANONYMOUS

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi AutumnBelle, I'm living in Kuching Sarawak and have been searching where I can find/buy Bird Of Paradise or Strelitzia Riginae for example. I'd appreciate very much if you would can let me know. Thanks.

    Roger
    +60128864000

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry I don't have any information about Sarawak, but in Selangor, Floranika Nursery sells this. Floranika Nursery is located at Lot 78 Kampung Melayu Batu 13 1/2, 47000, sungai buluh, selangor, Tel 6156 4887.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for your info. I've a quick look at the web side of Floranika and it looks miserable with only 1 photo.... Maybe I'll call them and find out more.

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    3. I have feedback from local gardener friends that Floranika has lots of exotic plants. Do call them. At the moment, as far as local nurseries are concerned, websites may not be the latest updated version of whats actually available at the nurseries.

      Delete
    4. Another nursery that sells the BOP plant is located in Bangi Selangor:
      Sri Banir Nursery
      Address: Lot 10 & 11, Jalan Persiaran Kemajuan, Seksyen 13, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43650 Bangi. Hp: 016-2099271 (Nor)

      Delete
  29. I checked some blogs and found that Cameron Highlands nurseries have the Strelitzias. If anyone have specific nurseries and contact info please post. I would like to buy from them and send to Sarawak. Or next time I travel to Cameron Highland. Tkx.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Google search for "buy Strelitzia reginae in Malaysia" came out with this site. Do check it out but I do not have any information on its reliability or quality status:
      http://www.21food.com/products/strelitzia-reginae,-nicolai-seeds-808578.html

      Delete
  30. Hi, good day! It's not easy to get varieties of heliconia in Malaysia. I have been looking for some varieties in local nurseries but to no avail. Can you share some pointers esp those nurseries in Selangor. Thanks so much. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ji Foong, I have seen quite a number of varieties of heliconias in Malaysian nurseries but some species are rather costly. In Selangor, I have given 2 nurseries names in the above comments. You can also look in Old Sg Buloh, Kampung Melayu and nurseries in Janda Baik areas.

      Delete

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