Strelitzia nicolai aka White Bird Of Paradise Tree

Strelitzia nicolai prefers warm conditions between 65-85°F (18-29°C) and will not tolerate temperatures below 50°F (10°C); avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature swings. Outdoors it does not tolerate severe frost, and RHS rates its UK hardiness as H1b, meaning it can only be grown outside during summer and needs protection (glasshouse/indoor) the rest of the year.

Outdoors, White Bird of Paradise thrives in warm, frost-free climates such as coastal Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and California, and it withstands salty coastal winds, making it a popular feature or screening plant in coastal gardens. Its root system is notably aggressive, so it should be planted well away from buildings, sidewalks, and other structures; strong winds can also tear the large leaves. It has naturalized outside its native South Africa in parts of eastern Mexico and Australia, and it can also be grown successfully in a large container for several years where garden space is limited.

Little to no pruning is required — RHS notes "no pruning required" for this species. The main maintenance task is removing any leaves that have been ripped or torn (a common occurrence in wind, since the large leaf blades tear easily along their veins).

When grown in containers, RHS recommends top-dressing annually and repotting only every second year, using a large container with peat-free, loam-based compost; the plant actually flowers better when slightly pot-bound, so avoid repotting more often than needed.

The most common propagation method is division of rooted offsets or suckers from the clump, ideally in spring. It can also be grown from seed, though germination is slower — NCSU notes it takes years before a newly propagated plant flowers, and RHS notes the thick seed coat needs soaking before sowing. PlantZAfrica's seed method: remove the orange aril, sow in equal parts river sand and compost, keep moist, and keep seedlings shaded for their first season.

Sources disagree on growth speed. NCSU notes mature plants may take five to six years before they first flower, and Wikipedia similarly says plants "require many years of growth before they begin blooming." RHS agrees flowering takes "a few years" and needs adequate light and feeding. PlantZAfrica, by contrast, describes the plant as "fast growing" once it is planted out, though this likely refers to vegetative growth rather than time-to-first-bloom.

Watch for scale insects, spider mites (including glasshouse red spider mite), aphids, and mealybugs. Both NCSU and RHS describe the species as otherwise largely free of significant diseases.

In its native range, Strelitzia nicolai flowers are pollinated by sunbirds — especially Olive Sunbirds and Grey Sunbirds — which feed on the nectar. Vervet and samango monkeys, other birds, and blue duiker also feed on the flowers and on the orange-arilled seeds.

The immature seeds of Strelitzia nicolai are reported as edible and "tasty" in its native South Africa. Note that other parts of the plant (flowers, fruits, leaves, mature seeds) are separately listed as mildly toxic if ingested, so this applies specifically to immature seeds.

Traditionally, the dried leaf stalks of Strelitzia nicolai have been used to make rope, historically used in building fish kraals and huts in South Africa.