Species. Evergreen perennial, indoor. These tear in the wind and come to resemble giant feathers. Attached to the stem by long, thick leaf stalks are the enormous, opposite leaves that are shiny and grey-green, with blades capable of reaching up to 2m in length. Used for rope, seeds are ground into flour and made into patties which are roasted, do not plant near walls. Pooley, E 1993. Trees of Natal. Leaf stalks are dried and used to make a rope for building fish kraals and huts. The Natal wild banana is fairly drought tolerant, but it does not tolerate severe frost, so plant it in a protected spot inland. Description. Cape Town. Color: White and bluish Bloom Time: Fall to winter. S. alba -. The entire flower can be up to 7.2 inches (18 cm) tall, up to 18 inches (45 cm) long and is typically held just above the … General Size: Small. Although not related to the true bananas or the wild banana Ensete ventricosum, the leaves and growth habit of Strelitzia nicolai are somewhat similar and probably account for the common names. It is light to dark grey and marked with old leaf scars. Birds or bananas–those are lofty names indeed. Summer. This is one of the very few plants which have been verified to contain the pigment bilirubin, which is usually found in animals. Packet of 10+seeds.. The leaves are grey-green up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long and arranged like a fan at the top of the stems. Although not related to the true bananas or the wild banana Ensete ventricosum, the leaves and growth habit of S. nicolai are somewhat similar and probably account for the common name. Family: Strelitziaceae (Strelitzia or Crane flower family). Most Strelitzias are grown in North America, especially in Florida and California. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1), 1–270(pt. Strelitzia alba is the rarest of the three large banana-like Strelitzia species occurring in southern Africa which are separated by flower characteristics and distribution. This great big ornamental tree is a real beauty. The inflorescence is composed of a dark blue bract, white sepals, and a bluish-purple "tongue". The plant tolerates light frost. List of species of southern African plants. Air purifying. Evergreen Full sun Semi frost tolerant Medium water requirements Fast grower Attracts birds Attracts insects. Anyone that has lived or holidayed on the KwaZulu-Natal coast in South Africa has to have noticed this plant. Perfect for large containers or tropical themed borders. The inflorescence is compound (more than one flower). This is a tall, striking foliage plant related to the well-known Crane Flower, Strelitzia reginae. Bird of Paradise White Wild Banana Strelitzia Nicolai Seeds. Jacana Publishers. Nickname. Strelitzia nicolai, on the other hand, refers to the Wild Banana, aka the Giant White Bird of Paradise. These banana-like plants with true stems may be low growing or tree-like. Scientific Classification. Discover our great prices today. The name Strelitzia was given to honour Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England. Strelitzia nicolai is commonly known as the Wild Banana, as this plant offers very similar foliage to banana. It can be used to offset hard landscaping, buildings and pools etc. Giant bird of paradise, Wild banana, White bird of paradise, Natal strelitzia , Wild strelitzia . It is popular as an indoor plant in the huge office blocks of the city. Jackson, W.P. 19cm; 35cm Durban. Click here to register. It is a common feature of the coastal vegetation from East London northwards. UCT Publishers. Login to add your Comment It can reach 8 m in height and forms dense clumps up to 3 m wide. Mountain strelitzia (Strelitzia caudata) —Also called the “wild banana,” grows outdoor and has white, spiky flowers. : 34. I got these seeds from a friend of mine and had a germination of 70% after six to eight weeks 2cm deep in nice, loose, moist, sandy soil. Strelitzia nicolai. Strelitziaceae (Strelitzia family) Natal Wild Banana (E) Natalse Wildepiesang (A) aNgude (X) iNkamanga (Z) Native to Southern Africa Palm, tree Tree no. Grant, R and Thomas, V. 1998. Plants require many years of growth before they begin blooming. It also looks good contrasted with evergreen lawns and shrubs. Flowering time: Spring. Natal wild banana (Strelitzia nicolai). The Natal wild banana grows mostly in coastal dune vegetation and in evergreen forests near the coast. Eco-Gardening with Strelitzia nicolai. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Natal Wild Banana. She was from the house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. It prefers rich, moist soils with good drainage in full sun to part shade. It withstands salty coastal winds, making it a good feature plant or screen for coastal gardens. By Geoff Nichols. Here I am offering Seeds from Strelitzia nicolai, also known as Giant Bird of Paradise, Natal Strelitzia, Wild Banana, and Wild Strelitzia. The flowers of this tree have white sepals with blue petals and consist of 5 purplish blue, boat-shape sheaths.The whole flower resembles the head of the bird, with a white crest and purple beak. The leaves are large and oblong in shape, measuring up to 1.5m in length, they are borne on long stems up to 2m tall. Natal flora Publication. The other two species, S. reginae and S. Nicolai (wild banana or giant white bird of paradise) are popular ornamental and house plants. SA Tree No: 34. Strelitzia nicolai is commonly grown both indoors and outdoors as well, in the case of warmer climates. Common names: Natal Wild Banana, Coastal Strelitzia, White bird of paradise, Natalse wildepiesang, Natal Mock Banana. The Natal wild banana is evergreen and creates a lush, tropical effect in the garden. Strelitzia alba also known as white-flowered wild banana, or Cape wild banana is a plant of the Bird of Paradise family and is endemic to the Garden Route along the southernmost coastal regions of the district of Humansdorp Eastern and district of Knysna in Western Cape in South Africa. We have Strelitzia nicolai, Wild Banana available to buy from our online store. This is a tall, striking foliage plant related to the well-known crane flower, Strelitzia reginae. Strelitzia Strelitzia. Plant type. The root system is aggressive,however, so don't plant it too close to structures and paths. Please read text! leaf stem (petiole) to 1m, leaf blade to 60cm wide by 2m long. 2), Joffe, P. Easy Guide to indigenous Shrubs. Wild Banana | Strelitzia Nicolai R 189.95 Shipping calculated at checkout. Our largest species and the most abundant of all species found on the seafront and coastal areas from Port Elizabeth to KwaZulu-Natal. It is a common feature of the coastal vegetation from East London northwards. However, Strelitzia is more closely related to Ravenala, the Madagascar plant known as the Traveler’s Palm. The 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)-long leaves are grey-green and arranged like a fan at the top of the stems, similar to Ravenala madagascariensis. Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Related to the bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia regina ), this close cousin is a much larger plant forming huge clumps of stems to 30 feet in comparison to S. regina's 3 to 4 feet height. Strelitzia nicolai is an eyecatching evergreen, effective throughout the year and is useful for creating a lush, tropical effect. Flower. It is easy to care for and its stately presence and striking flowers make it a popular choice for those wanting a statement plant. It needs a … There has been some confusion over which Nicholas the specific epiphet honours, but original description in Garden flora states that the name nicolai is in honour of Grand duke Nikolai Nikolaievich the elder, third son of Czar Nicholas I of Russia, and not for the Czar. Wild banana; white bird of paradise. Not registered yet? S. nicolai is restricted to evergreen coastal forest and thicket of eastern South Africa from the Great Fish River northwards to Richards Bay. Adds height and drama to mixed plantings, indoors or out. The large Leaves, in 2 opposite vertical rows, are sheathing at the base. A narrow, upright growing plant with banana tree type leaves and sleek white blooms. 2003, "Animal Pigment Bilirubin Discovered in Plants", "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strelitzia_nicolai&oldid=983097919, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 06:45. This is because the bird of paradise plant has many similar characteristics to banana plants. The flower of the Natal Wild Banana is a typical Crane Flower inflorescence, up to 500 mm long. Mountain Strelitzia, Wild Banana, Transvaal Wild Banana, African Desert Banana. It will live happily in shade or sun. Yes. It is an evergreen tree with multi-stems that form dense clumps. Uses. Common names: Natal wild banana, (E); Natalse wildepiesang (A); isigude, igceba, inkamanga (Z); ikhamanga, isigude, isigceba (X). 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