Common names:
Bird of paradise, crane flower
Scientific name:
Strelitzia reginae
Main flower color:
Range:
Not native to the USA, but widely used as a landscaping plant
Height:
Up to 6 feet
Habitat:
Sunny areas, often near the coast or along river banks
Leaves:
Large, up to 25 inches, at the end of stalks (petioles); linear in shape
Season:
May to July
Strelitzia reginae originates in South Africa (Cape and Natal provinces) but has been introduced into many other regions, where it is used in gardens and public areas in cities. The distinctive flowers grow from near the tip of a stout stalk, the upper end of which is turned perpendicular, resembling the head of a bird. Flowers consist of three orange or yellow-orange setals and three blue or purple petals, two of which fuse to form a spike, while the other contains the nectar.
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