image source: www.flickr.com
As can be understood by it's name, this giant species of Strelitzia is impressive plant with it's colossal perfect shaped leaves and gigantic blooms. It is one of the few species among the thousands of plants that I enjoy to see under cultivation. The reason is, you can stumble upon this plants in one of the steel-glass greenhouse where the roof reaches the highest point or in a well designed - high ceiling house with beautiful leave-crown, one main mother plant with upcoming siblings around, a couple of dark purple - white flowers are hanging. However in habitat, they live in big groups and they naturally maintain previous years damaged-ripped folliages which make them look like bunch of hobo. As its very popular tropical plant, you can see them in city landscapes, gardens or even jungles in 3D adventure movies.
image source: www.flickriver.com
Like most Strelitzia species, they have similar growing conditions with banana family. Warm climate, moist but well-drained soil, feeding regulary will give you happy plant. Young plants can be grown under strong day light or partial sun light however, their resistance to sunlight will increase within age and size. Like all strelitzia's, this plants need big space for roots, that is why I would like to plant them to the ground inside of wide-glassed saloon and have a small jungle next to my sofa.
Here in my town, you can find them in many private gardens or front of prominant buildings. It is possible to say that we have subtropic climate in south of Turkey, so many plant produce seed pods. Last autumn, I have collected some dry seeds. You will see little tiny cute orange furs attached on seeds. I prefer to remove this part in case they inhibit the germination. Sowing seeds in warm loam based soil after few weeks cool dormancy simplifys germination.
Dry flowers and seed pods, I love the colors :)
When the seed pods are dried up and open, orange-black seeds appear among the dried flowers. My theory, this flamboyant colors may attract animals and help plant spread on landscape in habitat.
Above empty seed pods, separated orange furs and 8mm seeds
And here my little seedlings of this spring. I hope in few years, they will be in my garden and shaking their big leafs with wind..
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