Strelitzia reginae is a monocotyledonous flowering plant indigenous to South Africa. Common names include Strelitzia, Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise. Its scientific name commemorates Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of King George III.
The plant grows to 2 m tall, with large, strong leaves 25–70 cm long and 10–30 cm broad. The leaves are evergreen, the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks.
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.
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 do well in full sun to semi-shade and respond well to regular feeding. 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. 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. Bird of Paradise flowers are associated with liberty, magnificence, and good perspective.