Strelitzia
The Strelitzia flower is also known as the Bird of Paradise or Crane flower. The plant, native to South Africa, grows as a bush and is made up of long silvery-green leaves and produces large, similarly coloured, pointed buds. Each bud opens up to reveal a bright orange and purple ‘crest’, which can be removed to allow a second ‘crest’ to open out. Strelitzia stems and leaves are strong and tall – they are usually cut anywhere from 50 to 100 centimetres.
The striking nature of the flower, its large size and its hardiness makes the Strelitzia ideal to include in corporate arrangements, or to add colour and style to large open spaces. The Strelitzia is a semi-tropical plant, and it flowers best in winter. Many people grow the plant in their garden, and florist suppliers find that Strelitzia grows best outdoors also.