Strelitzia juncea, a leafless bird of paradise
Strelitzia juncea
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Strelitziaceae
- Genus
- Bird of paradise Strelitzia
- Species
- Rush-leaved bird of paradise Strelitzia juncea
Other names:Strelitzia parvifolia, Strelitzia principis, Strelitzia reginae subsp. juncea, Strelitzia teretifolia
What's the point of having leaves when you've got flowers? That's probably what Strelitzia juncea came up with while growing in a clearing in South Africa. Like its cousins in the Strelitziaceae family, this bird of paradise is astonishingly colorful and unusually shaped.
How to recognize Strelitzia juncea, the rush-leaved bird of paradise?
When fully grown, Strelitzia juncea is a dense bush with a one-metre wingspan and a one-metre height.
This bird of paradise is made up of cylindrical green petioles measuring up to 60 centimetres. Their upright habit is reminiscent of reed stems. The foliage of Strelitzia juncea is insignificant. At the top of each stalk is a single, glaucous-green blade.
Strelitzia juncea flowers earlier and longer than strelitzia nicolai or strelitzia alba. Flowers bloom from spring to autumn. Orange and blue, they resemble those of strelitzia reginae. They have the characteristic appearance that earns the species its nickname.
In September, the spathes are replaced by the fruit, a hard, three-lobed capsule. Inside, the brown seeds are covered by a stringy husk.
Birds of paradise are slightly toxic to animals and humans. If ingested, they cause stomach pains and vomiting. Keep the plant, and especially its seeds, out of the reach of small children, dogs and cats.
Our care tips
Your Rush-leaved bird of paradise is not a diva. The plant needs plenty of light and regular watering. But for it to flower again, you'll need to overwinter it.
Watering
Allow the substrate to dry on the surface (at least three centimetres) between waterings. Water the root ball of your Strelitzia juncea with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
Don't forget to empty any stagnant water from the dish or pot. It will rot the roots.
Misting
Spray foliage with water at room temperature. Do not use tap water. It is often too hard and leaves marks on the leaves.
Fogging temporarily increases humidity and combats the appearance of parasites.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Strelitzia juncea to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Get a pot with a hole two or three centimetres larger than the previous one. In nature, the Strelitzia juncea likes to develop its roots deep down. Don't hesitate to choose a model that's taller than it is wide.
Line the bottom with a layer of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage. Then add potting soil for flowering plants. Plant your Rush-leaved bird of paradise in the center and fill with substrate. Tamp down without damaging the roots.
Cleaning
Photosynthesis is slowed down by dust accumulating on the leaves. To help your Rush-leaved bird of paradise make the most of its exposure, clean the foliage with a clean, damp cloth.
Dusting also helps prevent pest attacks.
Prune
Cut back dry stems and wilted leaves. You can use a pair of scissors or pruning shears. Remember to clean them beforehand to prevent the spread of disease.
Planting
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
If temperatures permit, you can plant your Rush-leaved bird of paradise in the ground.
Choose a sunny spot sheltered from the wind. Prepare a mixture of one third sand, one third soil and one third compost. Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your plant.
Place a bed of gravel at the bottom for drainage, followed by a layer of substrate. Plant your specimen in the center and fill in with your mixture. Tamp to eliminate air bubbles and water for the first time.
Sowing
Once the risk of frost has passed, you can sow your Strelitzia juncea seeds.
Remove the stringy husk covering the seeds. Then soak them for 48 hours in water at 30°. Remember to change the water twice a day to keep it clean.
Prepare pots filled with potting soil for sowing and planting. Place three to ten seeds in each pot. Cover them with three centimetres of substrate.
Place the seedlings in a greenhouse, exposed to light. For the seeds to germinate, the temperature must be between 20 and 30° and the soil must remain moist. Remember to spray and aerate your seedlings for five minutes every day.
When the young shoots appear, you can leave them in the open air.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Dig up the plant. Locate a rhizome with several stems. Separate it from the other roots. You can use your hands or a clean, sharp tool adapted to the size of the plant.
Prepare a pierced pot. Pour in a bed of clay balls or gravel to improve drainage, followed by a layer of potting soil for flowering plants.
Plant your plant in the center and fill in with substrate to within three centimeters of the rim. Tamp gently to remove air bubbles without damaging the roots.
Wintering
The Strelitzia juncea need a winter rest period to flower. Reduce watering and install your plant in a room with a temperature of 10 to 15°, such as an unheated veranda or greenhouse.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrates
- Humus soilSandy soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Categories
- IndoorRhizomeHerbaceousFlowery
- Tags
- BeginnerFloweryLarge potToxic
- Origin
- South Africa
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower colors
- OrangeBlue
- Fruit color
- Brown
Discover plants from the same family
Giant bird of paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
White bird of paradise
Strelitzia alba
Bird of paradise
Strelitzia reginae
Mountain Strelitzia
Strelitzia caudata
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
