Gardening
Strelitzia nicolai Giant bird of paradise
Tall, slow-growing tropical
The giant bird of paradise looks more like a cluster of banana trees than it does its better-known relative, Strelitzia reginae , the common bird of paradise.
Towering as high as 30 feet, S. nicolai has slightly flattened greenish-gray trunks, each with long, banana-like leaves growing out of one side and then the other, spreading into a huge fan of foliage at the top.
Its flowers are white with a dark-blue tongue; the flowers of S. reginae (the official city flower of Los Angeles) are orange, blue and white. Bloom on giant birds peaks in fall and winter, although usually the plants must be a few years old before they flower.
A silhouette-type plant, the giant bird of paradise is most often seen situated against a wall or fence. Underneath can be planted other tropical items, such as large ferns and shade-loving flowers.
It is fairly drought tolerant, because the large, fleshy roots retain lots of water. Grown in full sun in almost any soil, it has no major pests. Fertilizer is not a must, although Sunset’s New Western Garden Book recommends that you fertilize it often while it’s young to force growth, and then discontinue once it’s about the desired height.
Care is simple. When the bottom leaves are dry and brown, cut them off. Trimming the old leaf sheaths close to the trunk will make the plant look more like a statuesque palm.
While the plant is still small, pups can be divided from the periphery of the clump. The best time of year to do that is before the plant goes into active growth, in late spring.
When a larger plant seems too thick, selectively thin out some of the trunks. The root systems are not as massive as the tall trunks would make it appear. Clumps do expand, however, so they should not be planted too close to concrete or paving.
Giant birds of paradise make good container plants; being confined does not bother them. Indoors they grow well with lots of light, but probably won’t flower. Expect the leaves to elongate from the lack of sun. Should you decide to move an indoor giant bird outdoors, do it in steps, giving it increasingly more light; the plant will need time to acclimate to the new environment--leaves can get sunburned.
Armstrong’s on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles carries them year-round. They are available in many sizes, including 1-, 7-, 15-gallon sizes and larger. Your local nursery can special-order a larger one from a specimen tree grower. Mature plants can cost thousands of dollars.
