Strelitzia Reginae Strelitzia Reginae

One of the world's most unusual and attractive plants, the ever-popular "Bird of Paradise Flower" has spectacular orange and dark blue blooms on thick stems, above most attractive, leathery, banana-like leaves. In colder countries it does best in a large pot when it should be re-potted annually as it grows. In warmer climes it makes impressive evergreen clumps in the garden.

Abrade a small portion of each seed with sand paper or on a rough brick or similar, then soak seeds for 24 hours before sowing 2cm deep in a good loamy compost. Keep in a propagator or warm place, at between 20 and 25 degrees C, and do not exclude light. Germination can be erratic, usually taking between 2 to 12 months, sometimes longer, so do not discard the seed pots. Pot on small plants frequently in a coarse loose compost to achieve huge plants very quickly.