Wild banana - Strelitzia Nicolai

Wild banana - Strelitzia Nicolai or sometimes called Giant bird of paradise will provide a tropical focal point in any garden. So If you want to create an ambiance of being in paradise, this is the plant. This is an eye-catching plant with giant leaves that can reach up to 2 m in length. It's an outdoor plant, but that said they look and do great indoors in a sunny spot.

Outdoors the plant grows up to 12 m high and 4 m wide. They attract a lot of birds, especially sugar birds, with their massive electric blue, white and black flowers that drip with nectar. The flowers reach astounding sizes of 50 cm that are present throughout the year, but mostly in spring and summer.

Herewith a general list of your new social circle, when you plant this one: Olive Sunbird And Grey Sunbirds. Vervet and Samango monkeys, that feed on the soft part of the flowers as well as on the orange aril of the seeds. Birds and blue duiker also feed on the flowers. Frogs and ducks often shelter in the clumps along rivers for protection. The immature seeds are edible for human consumption and tasty.

Symbolism of Wild banana - Strelitzia Nicolai

The symbolism attached to this plant is paradise and freedom. 

Needs

It's not a very fussy plant and sandy, clay or loam soils are good. They are very drought resistant, but at the same time they just get so much more beautiful with regular watering and can also tolerate a wide range of temperatures and lighting conditions.

Uses

The seeds are eaten by people. They are black seeds with orange, oily arils, that are grounded into a flour. This is mixed with water and made into a fritter. The arils are pushed into the fritter. Afterwards it is baked over coals and eaten. 

Enquire for bigger sizes Wild banana - Strelitzia Nicolai in our Earthling shop