Pruning or relocating a Strelitzia reginae

I have recently purchased a house in Clermont, FL that has two beautiful White Bird of Paradise plants. They are about 15' tall and are pushing up the screen in the pool enclosure. They are planted in cutouts in the pool patio surrounding the pool. I am concerned with 1.) The roots causing cracks in the pool 2.) How do I prune these plants? 3.) I'm thinking of moving these plants as they will continue to be a problem with the overhead screen enclosure. Any hints of performing a successful transplant will be greatly appreciated.

Dick Vinal

I think what you actually have is Strelitzia nocolai (not reginae) . S. reginae doesn't develop trunks or have white flowers and normally won't get 15' tall.

The ones you have can be moved, but it will be a chore to do. They weigh a ton, as they are full of water..sort of like enormous celery.

They do, as you mention, have huge root systems which are thick and awkward to work in and around.

However, they do transplant well. We have moved them, but not with 15' stalks. You could cut those off, dig up as much of the plant as you can with a decent sized root ball, and then divide it. You'll probably have to use a saw to divide the clump.

They bounce back pretty fast, but you'll probably lose foliage in the interim.
They're pretty forgiving ! They can get 25 to 30 feet tall, so beware where you put them.

I've seen the city workers rip them out with a bobcat, divide them up with a chain saw, replant the divisions and in a year they were thriving.

They are actually very dramatic and have an architectural structure to them if you thin them out as they grow to show off the varying heights of the stalks.

Get some help doing this, because they are extremely heavy due to the water they retain in their roots and stems, etc.

Thanks you for your in-depth answer to my question. I have since talked to one of the neighbors who apparently gave the plants to the previous owner. They are a Strelitzia
Alba rather then a Nicolai.

Does your description fit the Alba too.

Thanks,

Dick

I never knew there was another variety named "Alba". so I just looked it up in the PlantFiles section.
If you go there, you can read the posts that different members have made comments on.
There seems to be difficulty in distinguishing it from S. nicolai.

I looked at the photos and they look just like what is referred to here as S. nicolai.

Maybe try a "google search"?

AS far as I know, Alba just means white and nothing to do with the type, but you are right to worry about your pool as these plants can become greedy for moisture and as you also now know, the roots are very full of moisture, they will be, to grow to the size they are, you should start by slowly removing as much soil as you can from around the roots/stems if any, as you said they are planted withing a planting pocket, after that, just get the bread knife out and slowly saw your way through the stems and roots, you will need the foliage in tact to maneuver the large roots out, try to remove a small clump at a time till you have space to get your fork or spade in and under the roots, you can always leave a small bit of plant in the soil so you dont leave a huge bare area, just dont neglect to split the next time it looks like it is getting too large for the area, you can replant the parts you remove elsewhere, add plenty manure/compost to the new planting hole so this helps keep the moisture in the soil these plants need for the wonderful show they give when in flower, the new area for them should be large enough to withstand the amount of growth they have, wish I could grow them here in UK. good luck. WeeNel.

WeeNel,

Thanks for the reply. This is a great website as the answers I have received will go far in attempting to relocate these plants.

Dick