Is there any way to tell the difference between strelitzia alba and s. nicolai? I believe the blooms are different ; I read that alba flowers are white without any blue. But ...since I don't expect the one I have to bloom til next season (if I'm lucky), is there any other way to tell that anyone is aware of? If so, please share!
Thanks,
strelitzia alba vs nicolai
Well the blooms are definately different. Have you looked at plant files?
Yep. I did, but the plant's only about 4 ft tall at this point and I've never seen the bloom, so...was just hoping there was a clue in the foliage to help me figure out which it is. They seem to be so much the same at this size. Am I missing something obvious?
Off hand I 'd say you are not missing anything. I am not really an expert but unless there is some clue ( and there could be ) you may have to wait until it blooms. The suspense would kill me!
Well, appreciate your response anyway. I may have to learn patience. :-)
Uh you know who might know, bwilliams. You could ask him.
Good idea. Thanks!
WEll, I googled Strelitzia alba and personally, I think the flowers look VERY similar, if not identical, to Strelitzia nicolai flowers... so I would still like to know what the differences are.
They do look very simillar but I seem to recall that one gets bigger than the other, tho I could be wrong.
There is a plant listed as S alba in the Huntington gardens, and if that is accurate (and believe me, a huge percentage of plants in that garden are mislabeled), then perhaps one difference is S alba has longer, droopier leaves... but it's a pretty huge plant (about 20' tall) and otherwise its growth is identical to the common S nicolais growing all over the place.
Yep! The 'patience' option is looking like the way I'll have to go! ;) Sounds like I'll just have to wait til it gets bigger or blooms...and even then I may not be sure. Thanks everyone.