Bird of Paradise

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:37 pm

These are very common around here in SoCal and i imagine most everywhere else too? It's a fascinating bloom and the name sure fits it perfectly!

We had removed 2 large 10foot high/wide clusters to make room for our cactus, but we kept a few small clusters.

It's a good thing it has such a nice bloom, cause otherwise the plant is as exciting as a toothache

They stay open for days, maybe even weeks.

Post by **daiv** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:13 pm

Not common around here Daryl! - Although I know this guy who just moved from SoCal and he brought one along in a pot.

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 12:38 am

Not common here either but that flower is a beaut

parrotsheaven · Post by **parrotsheaven** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:43 am

Darryl they are beaut!!! I only managed one flower this year due to the drought

Betty

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:53 am

OK, well i guess they aren't everywhere then

I must have imagined that part

peter · Post by **peter** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:57 pm

Hi Darryl
Not common here too, only as cut flowers!
I saw plenty of them on the Canary Islands once.
Very nice flowers indeed!

TimN · Post by **TimN** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:28 pm

The only place I've seen tons of them are in SoCal. Is it the same plant that is 2 feet tall or 10 feet tall? There are some enormous ones in San Diego.

I've only seen them in lush plantings, like hotels, here in Phoenix.

That is a very nice example, Darryl.

Tim

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:22 pm

Thanks guys!

The ones we removed were a good 7-8feet tall, full sun. The ones we kept are only 4-5feet tall, full shade. The large clusters are VERY established in the ground, not an easy task to remove

Post by **daiv** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:45 pm

Tim,
The orange one that Daryl posted stays smaller. There is a white one that gets about 20' or more I'd say.

See third down on this page:

Daiv

hablu · Post by **hablu** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:56 pm

Thanks for posting. I only saw this one once in the tropical greenhouse in the zoo.
Harry

Lewis_cacti · Post by **Lewis_cacti** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:47 am

Nice Stelitzia

i love these things. one of my favourite (non-cactus that is) flowers!

they are pretty common in gardens around here too.

heres a little funny story about them: in my garden in Perth, Western Australia where i lived 'til i was 5 we used to have a massive clump of the common one Darryl posted (S.reginae) many metres across and tall, it was growing right next to a fish pond lined with plastic. one summer when the plant got desperate for water its' vigorous roots burst through the plastic pond liner and nearly literally sucked the pond dry!

Daiv, the huge one with white flowers (S.nicolai from web searching) is understandably called the 'Giant Bird of Paradise' and is also quite common in gardens here, paticularly newly landscaped ones, but less so than S.reginae. the leaves on it really look like banana leaves! and it is commonly mistaken for a banana tree:

(pic is from google images)

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:56 am

I have both but Im afraid it will be years before the big bird blooms.

Post by **daiv** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:58 pm

SoCal natives, have you ever noticed the gigantic stand of these plants on the East side of the 5 freeway right around Encinitas?

I marveled at them each time I passed that way.

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:42 pm

Haven't seen it, but i take the 15 when going down that way.

navy · Post by **navy** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:05 am

I see them every day around my place, but your picture is still amazing to me!

Navy

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

amazing!