Page 29 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 3_2024

GARDENING
Initiative

squirrels will eat the flowers and
seeds.
When more than one species is
planted in a garden e.g. Strelitzia
reginae and Strelitzia juncea, the
seeds will produce hybrid plants
due to cross-pollination
Strelitzia reginae is seldom
affected by pests and diseases,
although poor growing conditions
will make the plant susceptible to
scale infection on the leaves. You
can treat this with mineral oil. Bad
drainage of the growing medium
may also result in root rot or fungus
infections. Remove damaged parts
and treat with a suitable fungicide.
STRELITZIA JUNCEA
This is a striking feature plant
with cylindrical leaves without
a leaf blade. The leaf shape
indicates that Strelitzia juncea
is able to survive on very little
water. Companion plants would
be Euphorbia, Cotyledon and
Encephalartos. The plant size and
flowers resemble Strelitzia reginae
but the seed production is not as
good.

STRELITZIA ALBA
This unbranched multi-stemmed
plant can grow up to 10 metres
BIRD OF tall and does not tolerate frost.
Suckers are often formed at the
base of the plant. Leaf blades
PARADISE and add to the generally untidy
become torn by wind and age
appearance. With leaves up to
2 metres long, this plant is only
suitable for large gardens. Huge
300mm white flowers appear in
autumn.

STRELITZIA NICOLAI
The Natal wild banana grows up
to 12 metres high and 4 metres
wide and the multi-stemmed dense
clump resembles the wild banana
and has an aggressive root system.
It will not tolerate severe frost.
The flowers of this tree have white
sepals with blue petals and will
appear throughout the year.

STRELITZIA CAUDATA
This species is unbranched and
multi-stemmed, growing up to 6
metres tall. Flowers appear in
autumn and the sepals are white
with light mauve petals. This is
the smallest of the giant Strelitzia
species, but due to the aggressive
root system and size of the mature
plant, it’s only suitable for planting
in large, frost-free gardens.

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