Blooming White Bird of Paradise

It has taken me over 7 years to get this to bloom. Now I need to try and sell it as it is too large to bring inside or put in my little garden shed.

close up of the flowers

Congrats, Trish. I can't get mine to bloom.

Isn't it in a pot with a Large Banana plant?? Maybe transplant into other container so you don't have to lose all your hard work??!! Very nice--too bad if you lose it though!! Bonnie

Beautiful Trish!

thanks all...

Bonnie, it is in a pot by itself.. what I think you are seeing as a banana is a pup from the BOP.. there are several around the base. If I don't sell it, I am thinking of laying it down and covering it up real good for the winter. We do get hard freezes in this part of Florida

WOW Trish, I am so impressed. What a huge plant. I love it.

Oh its beautiful!!!!
I have one and if it took you 7 to get a bloom .....
I figure it will bloom around my retirement......13 or 14 years from now......

I only have the orange BOP but it does fine outdoors here.
Jan...

Awesome plant, Trish. You know there is always room for just one more plant! At least that is what I keep telling myself as I bring plants inside for the winter!

thank you, thank you, thank you,

Budgielover.. this plant was in the ground when I lived over by St. Augustine.. I dug it up and potted it when I moved over to this frigid part of Florida.

Mel.. I would have to cut the leaves off as it is as tall, if not taller than the ceilings in the house and the little plant shed only has a ceiling of 6' so that wouldn't work either.. PLUS the plant is too heavy for me to drag back up the hill.

You give me hope! I got a singular seed to germinate for me this winter and have recently transplanted it to a galllon container.

Only 6 more years to go!.;->

I think those guys are hardier than we give them credit for. Mine survived a night of snow fall last christmas eve followed by a few freezes.
Mine is suppose to be white...only 2 more years then! Although......mine has pups on each side just like that!
Rj

An aunt of mine had one of these plants - the regular orange/blue-flowering type - for many years without it ever flowering.

She finally got tired of waiting & went to a crafts store & purchased a couple of very realistic-looking fake Bird of Paradise blooms & stuck them into the pot.

Looked great - lol!!!

I tell ya, the wait is well worth it. The flowers last for weeks and every few days it seems a new one opens up.

Rj... I'm thinking of laying this one down on its side and putting a frost cloth over it for those nights that are suppose to get into the 20's and teens.

Breezy.. now that sounds like something I would have done years ago before I started gardening.. LOL..

I've heard that they won't bloom until their roots are crowded.

Has that been anyone's experience here?

How tall is it Trish? I am looking around for a greenhouse to put up. We could stick it in there.

Lisa,
It is over 10' high.. and too darn heavy for us to lift out of the swamp.. got to get some MAN power for that.

Gee, you can overwinter it in my front yard. LOL
Jan...

Wow, that is beautiful, MzMunchken!

On a different note (since I am on your thread), can you recommend any gingers that are hardy in my zone? I know you are a ginger lover. :-)
Terrie

Jan.... Only if I get visiting rights!! LOL

Terrie, All the hedychium, pinecone, most costus, globbas are hardy in your zone. Email me privately and I can be more specific once I know the site you want to plant them in as different ones like different shade, moisture, etc.

You can have every other weekend, holidays and summers of course.LOL