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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Musaceae
|genus=Strelitzia
|species=reginae
|common_name=Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia, Crane Flower
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=herbaceous
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max ht box=4
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max wd box=3
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=evergreen, flowers
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flowers=orange, yellow
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=10
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|image=Starr 060615-8172 Strelitzia reginae.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Strelitzia reginae''''' is a [[monocotyledon]]ous [[flowering plant]] indigenous to [[South Africa]]. Common names include '''Strelitzia''', '''Crane Flower''' or '''Bird of Paradise''', though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus ''[[Strelitzia]]''. Its scientific name commemorates [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], [[queen consort]] of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]].
The plant grows to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, with large, strong [[leaf|leaves]] {{convert|25|-|70|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|10|-|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} broad, produced on [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]]s up to {{convert|1|m|in|abbr=on}} long. The leaves are [[evergreen]] and arranged in two ranks, making a fan-shaped crown. The [[flower]]s stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges is termed the ''[[Spadix|spathe]]''. This is placed perpendicular to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head and beak; it makes a durable perch for holding the [[sunbird]]s which [[pollination|pollinate]] the flowers. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange [[sepal]]s and three purplish-blue [[petal]]s. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in [[pollen]].
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Strelitzia reginae, Banks. Bird-of-Paradise Flower. Fig. 3733. About 3 ft. high: roots large, strong-growing: lvs. oblong, about 1 ft. long, stiff, concave: lf .-stalks all radical, 2-3 times as long as the lvs.: scape higher than the lvs.: spathe about 6 in. long, nearly horizontal, purplish at the base, about 6-fld., the fls. orange and blue-purple. Winter. B.M. 119, 120. G.C. III. 54:86. Gn. 60 p. 412; 76, p. 168. Gn.W. 23:185. R.H. 1909: 308. Var. citrina, Hort., is cult. abroad. Gn. 78, p. 30.
Strelitzia reginae, Banks. Bird-of-Paradise Flower. About 3 ft. high: roots large, strong-growing: lvs. oblong, about 1 ft. long, stiff, concave: lf .-stalks all radical, 2-3 times as long as the lvs.: scape higher than the lvs.: spathe about 6 in. long, nearly horizontal, purplish at the base, about 6-fld., the fls. orange and blue-purple. Winter. Var. citrina, Hort., is cult. abroad.
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}}
==Cultivation==
''S. reginae'' is very popular as an [[ornamental plant]]. It was first introduced to [[Europe]] in [[1773]], when it was grown at the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]]. Since then, it has been widely introduced around the world, including the [[Americas]] and [[Australia]], growing well in any area that is sunny and warm. In the [[United States]], [[Florida]] and [[California]] are the main areas of cultivation, due to their warm climate. It is a common ornamental plant in [[Southern California]], and has been chosen as the Official Flower of the [[Los Angeles, California|City of Los Angeles]], where they are all but unkillable.
It is propagated by division or from seeds, and is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to grow in the garden; it is fairly tolerant of soil conditions and needs little water once established. If cared for well, they will flower several times in a year. They will thrive in rich [[loam]]y soil, especially when they get plenty of water throughout the year. They do well in full sun to semi-shade and respond well to regular feeding with a [[controlled release fertiliser]] and [[compost]]. They are sensitive to cold and need to be sheltered from [[frost]], as it can damage the flowers and leaves.
''S. reginae'' is slow-growing and will not bloom until three to five years have passed since germination (though it can exceptionally flower at two years).<ref>Joffe, P. Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs, Briza Publications, 2003 ISBN 1875093400</ref> It flowers only when properly established and division of the plant may affect flowering patterns. The flowers are, however, quite long-lasting once they appear. Peak flowering is in the winter and early spring. There is a yellow-flowered [[cultivar]] of this plant known as Mandela's Gold Strelitzia.
===Propagation===
===Pests and diseases===
==Meaning==
==Varieties==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Starr 061224-2882 Strelitzia reginae.jpg
File:Starr 071024-0329 Strelitzia reginae.jpg
File:Canna JPG1.jpg
File:Paradiesvogelblumensamen.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
==External links==
{{commons|Strelitzia reginae|Strelitzia reginae}}
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