I gave in to temptation and bought this from Lowes today. It was marked "White Bird of Paradise" and also said it was hardy to 28 degrees. That's it. I looked up "white" B of P but I'm not sure that's what this is. Can anyone help ID? ..and if so, IS it that cold hardy? Does it need full sun or can it take shade? Many thanks!!
Deb
Here's a closeup of a leaf... of the same plant.
Deb
looks like a WBP to me.
Strelitzia nicolai
Yes, your plant is a white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), Here in Southern California they eventually get about 15-25 ft tall. White bird of paradise are much bigger than orange bird of paradise (strelitzia reginae). I think they are hardy to about 28 degrees. The genus was named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Great Britain, a patron of botanical research in England, who had a renowned collection of exotic plants from around the world.
Thanks everyone! It'd be so nice if the plants in these big stores had better/more consistent labeling, wouldn't it? My favorite label is "tropical foliage", to which I always reply, "Oh, gee - thanks!" :)
Appreciate such quick responses.
Deb
Yeah, that looks like the White (a.k.a Tree) Bird of Paradise.
Debin: Yeah, I HATE that.... When I into Lowes, and see a carbaord palm (Zamia) or Draceana marginata labelled as "Tropical foliage" I'm tempted to go to the garden center employees, and say, "Excuse me, but this is not a Tropical foliage... It's a Draceana marginata... you need to inform your supplier that they mislabeled these plants."
....But I'm not that big of a smart-aleck.
A lot of times, it is buyer's advantage, when they mislabel plants.
Most of the time they say "premiumfoliage", you can get a great deal,
if you know what you are looking for. I got a cardboard palm, for $7.00,
chlortophytm fireflash for $3.00, canary palm for $6.00, midnite ginger
for $6.00, and the list goes on and on. If you know plants and know what
you are getting, it's definitely your advantage they are marked "premium foliage"
Janet
Yeah, but most of the stuff they label as 'Premium Foliage' isn't hardy around here... even with mulching. I did see some Aspidistra elaitor labelled as such once long ago, but I didn't bother because back then, I "knew" that "It won't grow around here" Turns out I was wrong, though.
I bought that exact plant...maybe even same color of container, even...in a Lowe's in zone 5b Columbia, MO. It grew vigorously in the ground in my GH for 2 years, then it got too big and I dug it up. I still have a section in a pot (trade?!?).
Hikaro, I'm not ashamed to say that I've told the Lowe's garden area employees that very thing. Deaf ears. And I guess that makes me a smart-aleck. :-)
JanetOS: I see your point. My problem is that often, when I see one of those vague labels, I try to search the old memory, but often I'm just not certain enough that I know what the plant is. So I don't know if it's something that'll grow well in my zone ...Of course, it it's really cheap, (as the aforementioned BOP was) I take the chance! :) That said, Hikaro, I sure don't feel confident enough to say anything to the store folks- other than "Excuse me, do you know what the name of this plant actually is?" (Usually they don't.)
I don't say anything at all to the store people... I just said that I was half-tempted to say that... I already know they probably won't know anything about the plants.... I DID say something one time when they had some Mahonia (which was Leatherleaf Mahonia mis-labeled as Oregon Grapeholly) in FULL SUN (which burns the heck out of Mahonias). When I informed them about that, they said, "Well, hollies need full sun" I told them that Mahonia was NOT a holly, and the person said, OK I'll ge the guys to move it. When I went shopping for plants at Lowes about a month later, I saw they DID move it... to a part-sun location.
This plant is just too big for a houseplant unless you have a lot of space for it. I had it for years in a huge pot (22 inch) and finally let it outdoors last winter (to freeze) so I wouldn't have to move it again. It would get 3 to 4 foot long leaves which would eventually flop due to wind so it probably only had 4 to 6 leaves at a time. I realized it would probably never bloom since it is "the giant bird of paradise". Blooming ones in FL and other tropical places are in the ground and are generally 20 foot tall. The "regular" BOP is a better choice for a potted plant and actually blooms for temperate gardeners.
I have had a WBP in a cont for over 8 or more years now, and the plant is manageable in size-very full and about 5-6' high, but I keep in in a smaller pot-about a 5 gallon pot which restricts the growth. I like them better than the bird of paradise
Has it ever bloomed for you? I'll just enjoy the big ones when I go to the tropics. I had mine in a 20 inch glazed pot and got tired of moving it in and out with a hand cart. I had it for about six years and am I ever glad it is gone! If it was hardy it might've been worth it but it's one I can definitely live without.
I've seen WBP's over the tops of houses in south FL. Mine is about 15 feet tall and was taller before I lost a lot of it in our two major hurricanes two years ago. They get lots of pups too so you have to keep them under control if they're in the ground. Mine is in full FL sun and blooms constantly. The cups of the flowers get some kind of liquid in them that the birds like to drink. It may just be rain water for all I know. They are beautiful when they get large but the trunks get really heavy and the flowers themselves weigh a ton! I lost my pool enclosure in our hurricanes when one of the biggest trunks broke and fell on it.
-- Vicky
