Herbaceous plant Strelitzia alba
Strelitzia alba in flower
Strelitzia alba bird of paradise flower
Strelitzia alba in the ground
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Strelitzia alba, the white bird of paradise
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
In the coastal forests of South Africa lies an endangered species: the Strelitzia alba. This variety of bird of paradise, even rarer than Strelitzia reginae, stands out for its white flowers and large size.
How to recognize the Strelitzia alba, the white bird of paradise?
In the wild, Strelitzia alba grows up to ten meters high and three meters wide. In pots, under less clement skies, it reaches three meters high and one meter wide. The plant produces numerous shoots at its base, giving it a bushy habit.
Like palms, Strelitzia alba has false trunks. These are formed by the sheathed petioles. Over time, these stipes become lignified. At the top of the stem, foliage grows in a fan shape.
Leaves and petioles are up to two meters long and 60 centimeters wide. The lanceolate, oblong blades are gray-green. They are leathery, with marked veins and a central vein sometimes tinged with purple.
Strelitzia alba displays white flowers with black bracts in summer. Set perpendicular to the stem, they resemble a bird of paradise. They are born in the leaf axils, each spathe hosting between five and ten flowers.
Your bird of paradise has white flowers, but you're not sure whether it's a Strelitzia alba or a Giant bird of paradise? Take a look at the blossoms. On the former, the bracts are simple and the corolla completely immaculate. In the latter, the inflorescence is multiple and the flowers are white and blue.
Fruits appear in autumn. They are woody capsules with three lobes. They contain the black seeds and their stringy red husks.
The white bird of paradise is slightly toxic to animals. Like strelitzia caudata, it causes stomach ache and vomiting if ingested. But the toxic principles are essentially contained in the seeds and roots.
Our maintenance tips
Your White 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
To know if you need to water, touch the soil. Water only when the surface of the substrate is dry (two to three centimeters). Use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater, at room temperature.
To prevent the roots from suffocating, don't leave standing water in the saucer or planter.
To prevent the roots from suffocating, don't leave standing water in the saucer or planter.
Spray
In our homes, heating dries out the air. To remedy this, spray the foliage of your Strelitzia alba with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Strelitzia alba to give it more space.
Get a pot with a hole two or three centimetres larger than the previous one. In nature, strelitzia alba 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 White bird of paradise in the center and fill with substrate. Tamp down without damaging the roots.
Cleaning
Dust on the leaves slows down photosynthesis and hinders your plant's growth. Clean foliage with a clean, damp sponge. This operation also helps prevent invasions by mites and other pests.
Prune
Remove or cut back yellowed and wiltedleaves. If you use pruning shears or scissors, make sure your tool is clean.
Plantation
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
If temperatures permit, you can plant your White 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.
Seedling
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.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Dig up your White bird of paradise without damaging the roots. Using your spade or a suitable tool, cut the plant into at least two parts.
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
Strelitzia alba 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
| Family | Strelitziaceae - Strelitziaceae |
| Type | Bird of paradise - Strelitzia |
| Species | White bird of paradise - Strelitzia alba |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Fritillary Large pot Toxic |
| Origin |
South Africa |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 10a |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower color |
|
| Fruit color |
|
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