Strelitzia reginae (Bird of paradise)

Hey that is just great! What a celebration it is! Beautiful plant.

Only trouble is that I catch people on the street stopping to gawk at it (and hence into the front room)!

Oh dear! That is a downside. Nice they admire, you can't blame them. You need one of those screens the Victorians had!

Hurray!!!!! Looks gorgeous!

that's quite incredible, beautiful

Wow! :D

Stunning !

Its beautiful.....................

excellent Meanie...

Thanks all!

Not too much of an issue at the moment Sticki..............

thats good

but if you put one of your amazing plants in the window each week the tourist board will be putting you on the map!!

Meanie:

Yay! It finally bloomed! lol!

It's looking great!

I just cut mine back a week ago...almost 50 dead flowers and more than 100 leaves taken off my plant....it doesn't even look like I cut it back! :>/

Mine finally went to the garden. Maybe next year I'll be cutting back tons of flowers and loads of leaves....;o))))))

Alexandramou:

Don't count on it! :>)

It's not a fast growing plant until well-established.

I'm guessing the one in my front yard is most likely more than 30 years old...or possibly much older. It's difficult to tell the age, because they have such a long life.

I will be happy with a couple Delonix.

I'm glad I put it in the garden.....the pot was full of roots!

Thanks Delonix!

Good luck with yours Alex - it could be a monster! How old is it?

It's seven years old Meanie. It better flower this year!

It will. Has the plant split yet?

I don't think so.....

Don't tell me it has to split to flower!!!!!!!

Not sure - mine split first then bloomed................

My one has split since it bloomed, so I dont know if that is anything to guage flowering by.......

That makes me feel better Milky. ;o)

Okay, the plants don't SPLIT! LOL!

They develop off-shoots and spread. This is the typical way they grow. If left alone, they can spread and become a huge clump (in time, in the ground).

The roots are fleshy and almost like a rhizome. I know, because I removed a large clump from my back yard about 6 or 7 years ago.

Yes, I saw those roots when I took it out of the pot.

Yes, the roots are large white and store water. This is the reason why there's millions growing in the California landscape, because this plant is extremely drought tolerant. Although, I think they look much better with some summer water.