Strelitzia nicolai (Black/White Bird of Paradise) seeds

A superb, unusual palm-like variety of Strelitzia with very long leaves, 1.5m or more long, which bears beak-like,white, pale-blue and dark purple flowers. Can take several years for flowers to appear but this is an outstanding foliage plant in its own right. Excellent container plant for the patio, greenhouse or conservatory.

Greenhouse perennial - min 10C but can be put outside in summer.
Flowers: Spring
Height: 5m
Position: Part-shade

Packet of 6 seeds

GROWING GUIDE

Important: Store seeds in the fridge and sow as soon as possible after receipt.

Pre-sowing Treatment: Remove the orange tuft and soak for 24 hours.

Sowing Instructions: Can be sown at any time of year and as soon as possible after receipt. Sow into pots or trays of moist seed compost and cover with a 6mm layer of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or warm place and keep at a constant 22-25C. Do not exclude light as this is beneficial to germination and keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged. Germination can take 1-6 months.

Growing Instructions: When large enough to handle, pot on into 7.5cm pots with a good soil based potting compost and grow on in good, natural light. Re-pot as necessary as the seedlings grow but always keep them slightly pot-bound as this encourages flowering. Place outside in the summer but remember to bring them in before the first frosts. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser and water sparingly in winter.