Existing comment:
Strelitzia nicolai
White Bird-of-Paradise
Native to South Africa, reaches 15-30 feet tall.
This plant was on display in 1969 when Brookside Gardens opened. In 1980, on Christmas Day, the boilers failed and the plants to the conservatory froze. This plant and one other, Rhapis excelsa (Lady-Palm), died back to their crowds -- the point where stems meet roots at the ground line -- and then re-sprouted.
The stems of the Strelitzia have to be removed periodically when they get close to the glass. They contain lots of water and are very heavy. They will fall over if not removed. |