Yellow bird of paradise Seeds - Strelitzia reginae Mandela’s Gold

The Yellow Bird of Paradise or Strelitzia reginae Mandela’s Gold is an exotic perennial plant created by the team at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa after a long 20-year selection process. It belongs to the family Strelitziaceae.

Its subtropical origins explain its low resistance to the cold (5°c minimum) which does not allow it to be grown outdoors all year round. The sheltered environment of a heated greenhouse, a veranda or the house is necessary for it to produce its magnificent, heavenly blooms. When grown in ideal conditions, the yellow Strelitzia also called Strelitzia reginae Kirstenbosch Gold in reference to its creators, will bear its beautiful flowers from December to May.

The foliage is composed of a clump of overlapping leaves. Carried by long petioles of about 100 cm to 120 cm, the leaves are tough, oblong in shape and measure 30 to 60 cm.

The floral stems emerge from the axils of the leaves. The 10 to 12 cm long flowers consist of a large, pointed purple and red spathe, carried by a long, thick, vertical stem that is upright and red at its tip. From this spathe emerges a calyx with yellow sepals and a corolla of blue petals, somewhat like a fan that is opening. The Strelitzia owes its common name to the resemblance of its flowers to the bristly plumage of birds of paradise during their courtship ritual.

Grow the yellow Bird of Paradise in a rich, well-drained growing medium. To make your own, mix one third good quality garden soil with one third leaf mould and one third bark. This fairly tall variety (120 to 180 cm high) will need to be grown in a very large pot.

Strelitzia needs heat more than sunshine, so even it can satisfy itself with the low light of a house in winter, it must not be grown in temperatures below 12 °C. In summer do not hesitate to set it up on the terrace or balcony. Water it abundantly, twice a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter.