Page 15 - IFV Issue 5 May 2024

Gardening

STRELITZIA REGINAE
This plant grows up to 1,5 metres tall and
2 metres in diameter. It has an extensive
root system so be sure to allow enough
space around each plant in the garden.
It is suitable for planting in winter
and summer rainfall areas and it will
tolerate light frost but prefers full sun
for maximum flowering. It will, however,
grow in dappled shade.
Plant it in well-drained loam soil and
only fertilise twice yearly. The plant has
a fleshy root system and is water-wise.
The flowers have orange sepals and
blue petals and are seen throughout the
summer season.
Strelitzia reginae can be propagated
from seed and, although slow-growing,
will start flowering after three to five
years. When dividing mature plants, it is
important to have a minimum of 60cm
clump diameter to encourage recovery.
Remove all flowers after division. Full
recovery after division will be more or
less three years.
Bees and sunbirds are welcome
visitors as pollinators. Monkeys, rats and
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 the seed production is not as good. and the multi-stemmed dense clump
susceptible to scale infection on the resembles the wild banana and has
leaves. You can treat this with mineral oil. STRELITZIA ALBA an aggressive root system. It will not
Bad drainage of the growing medium This unbranched multi-stemmed plant tolerate severe frost. The flowers of this
may also result in root rot or fungus can grow up to 10 metres tall and tree have white sepals with blue petals
infections. Remove damaged parts and does not tolerate frost. Suckers are and will appear throughout the year.
treat with a suitable fungicide. often formed at the base of the plant.
Leaf blades become torn by wind and STRELITZIA CAUDATA
STRELITZIA JUNCEA age and add to the generally untidy This species is unbranched and multi-
This is a striking feature plant with appearance. With leaves up to 2 metres stemmed, growing up to 6 metres tall.
cylindrical leaves without a leaf long, this plant is only suitable for large Flowers appear in autumn and the
blade. The leaf shape indicates that gardens. Huge 300mm white flowers sepals are white with light mauve petals.
Strelitzia juncea is able to survive on appear in autumn. This is the smallest of the giant Strelitzia
very little water. Companion plants species, but due to the aggressive root
would be Euphorbia, Cotyledon and STRELITZIA NICOLAI system and size of the mature plant, it’s
Encephalartos. The plant size and The Natal wild banana grows up to only suitable for planting in large, frost-
flowers resemble Strelitzia reginae but 12 metres high and 4 metres wide free gardens.

The Villager • Issue 5 2024 • 13