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Tropical Flowers Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Tropical Flowers. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
The Spectacular Bird of Paradise
from: Lawn and Garden MagicOf all the flowers on earth the Bird of Paradise are truly spectacular. Yes, any flower is fantastic, but there is something very special about the unique beauty of Bird of Paradise flowers.
Since they're native to South Africa they're a large tropical herb classified as a member of the banana family -- or Musaceae, likely due to the shape of its leaves, which, of course, looks much like banana leaves. They're also ranked in the division of Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida and order Zingeberales. As you might have guessed, they're named Bird of Paradise because of spectacular blossoms that look a lot like birds when watched from a distance. Bird of Paradise flowers retain the scientific name of Strelitzia reginae.
Bird of Paradise are almost breath-taking with blossoms of long stemmed flowers shoot out from green boat-shaped bracts bordered with purple or red. Actually, you'll discover many sets of flowers in foliage, which gather on the end of a stalk. An amazing combination of distinctive shapes and colors that perfectly suit their name, the many pointed petals of radiant orange contrast nicely with its arrow-shaped tongue of striking blue. You'll also find species of Bird of Paradise flowers with white and blue shades. Winter and spring are the normal times when they begin to blossom in succession.
Enjoying your own Bird of Paradise flowers from seed requires from five to seven years, which seems like a long time, however, it's well worth the wait once you begin to see the plant start to bloom. So, if you're not discouraged by the waid and still want to have your own Bird of Paradise flowers, then you should get to know how to care for them. Here's a few quick tips.
1) Since they're a tropical plant, Bird of Paradise should get lots of sunlight, however it will need protection if the temperature falls below 30 degrees.
2) Fertilize with appropriate fertilizer, but never over-fertilize. So be careful to follow the directions you receive with your fertilize because too much of anything won't do any good, whether you're dealing with people, animals or plants.
Bird of Paradise will respond quite well to trimming, however, don't over-water these flowers and make sure the roots are able to dry out between waterings.
Tropical Flowers News
Bring some tropical beauty into your home - Grand Forks Herald
Darrel Koehler writes 'The Prairie Gardener' for Thursday's Herald. Send garden questions in care of him to Grand Forks Herald, P.O. Box 6008, Grand Forks ND 58206-6008. Santa Claus may have left amaryllis bulbs under your tree this holiday season ...
Read more...Garden state - South China Morning Post
Early morning, when the sun isn't fully out and the air is still, is Arthur van Langenberg's favourite time for gardening. The surgeon and author of Urban Gardening: A Hong Kong Gardener's Journal adds: "At this time, many workers walk past my ...
Read more...Xiamen rides on reform tides - People's Daily Online
Xiamen, an international modern port city and islands along the southern coastline, was among the first beneficiaries of the reform and opening up policy launched 30 years ago. Facing the Taiwan Straits, Xiamen was one of four special economic zones ...
Read more...Best wines of 2008 make a nice case - Dayton Business Journal
I recommended more than 35 wines in this column during 2008, so I thought it would be fun to sort through and see which were my favorites. I used a mix of my taste preference and the price to determine my rankings for quality and value. Here are my ...
Read more...Lovely plants to consider in 2009 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
A year after the major drought of 2007 robbed gardens of healthy blooms, I captured eight great looking, interesting plants that seemed no worse for wear in 2008. Here are some suggestions for a Happy New Year in the 2009 garden. • Peppermint Stick ...
Read more...Florida Travel Calendar for February - Orlando Sentinel
Central Florida Covering the I-4 corridor from Daytona to Tampa plus Sarasota and Brevard County Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Champion Challenge, Lake Buena Vista. Watch lacrosse teams from around the world showcase their high-level of athleticism and ...
Read more...