The bird of paradise , which lives up to its name , does n’t need to be cut like some perennial do , but you could slim down it out to get free of bloom straw after they bloom . If the plant is getting too giving for where it is , take some clumps from the base of the plant and move them to a unlike spot .
Since the raspberry of paradise ( Strelitzia reginae ) does n’t have any real branches , it does n’t need to be pruned very often and does n’t expend the usual methods for perennial shrubs . Instead , the flora makes stanch that clump together and leaves that grow off of them to make a buff shape . When fully grown , a jumbo birdie of paradise can grow to be 3 or 4 feet tall , and the heyday stalks can get as tall as 5 foot .
Plant lovers want the beautiful and rarefied bird of promised land flowers , which do well in hot office like the U.S. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 10 to 12 . you may get rid of the flower after it blooms and then fades so that the dead , drying shuck do n’t become the focal point of your garden .
First , clean your garden shears so you do nt go around disease either to or from your wench of paradise . you may apply chlorine bleach or a disinfectant like Lysol , but bleach is abrasive and Lysol has n’t been shown to kill plant life pathogens . serious alternatives are ethanol or isopropyl alcohol , which do nt need to be wipe off and are straightaway effective .
snip off the heyday stalk at the base an inch or so above the soil line . Take care to avoid damaging the lump itself or stab into the roots . novel flower stalks will appear from the lump .
The giant wench of paradise ( Strelitzia nicolai ) is a stunning tropical plant known for its enormous banana tree - like leaves and vibrant Orange River and blue flowers resembling a crane . Native to South Africa , it thrive as a dramatic architectural specimen in frost - free climates . However , its rapid growth to 30 animal foot marvellous or more can portray challenges for householder . If your gargantuan bird of paradise is getting out of paw , you have several option to take its size .
Understanding Giant Bird of Paradise Growth
In ideal conditions with plentiful heat , wet and fall the elephantine bird of paradise grows quickly . Mature plants can reach over 30 foot marvellous with leaves up to 6 feet long emerging from the crown on long petioles . The huge leaves create a jungle - like effect .
This exceptionally fast growth charge per unit makes the giant bird of paradise a nominee for becoming weedy or incursive in tropical and subtropical climates . It can easily outgrow its allotted space in just a few years . thrifty direction is needed to keep it in check .
This plant is best suited for a big - scale landscape painting where it has room to reach its full dimension . Use it as a salient accent plant or tropic CRT screen . Just be prepared to prune it regularly .
When to Consider Containing or Pruning
You have a few selection if your elephantine bird of paradise is encroaching where it ’s not need
adjudicate pruning first before take more drastic measures like trunk removal . Here are signs it ’s clip to prune or contain your giant shuttlecock of paradise :
How to Prune a Giant Bird of Paradise
These industrial plant can be pruned yr - round as need in frost - free climates . Here are some pruning tips :
Always sterilize pruners between cut with rub intoxicant . Make clean swing at a 45 degree angle just above a leaf client . Avoid leaving stub .
Drastic pruning is well tolerated , but you may flounder it over time for a natural look . The plant will put out new growth apace , so perseverance is needed to keep it controlled .
Using Physical Barriers for Containment
Since the root scheme expand rapidly , barriers can help oneself keep the giant bird of paradise circumscribe . Install them 2 - 3 foot by from the proboscis on all sides . Options let in :
Concrete or plastic edging sunk 6 + inches into the ground
footer around the perimeter to block radical spread
alloy blink inserted vertically into the ground
Planter or raised bed with solid bottom and sides
ascendent barrier material laid under fence filth
Gravel border where roots wo n’t penetrate
Surrounding paving that wo n’t allow for enlargement
tick barriers frequently for any escaping root growth . cut the leaf simultaneously so the plant does n’t overgrow its bounds above ground .
Cutting the Trunk Down to Size
If your jumbo bird of paradise transcend the acme you trust , you could saw the trunk down to reduce its size of it . Cut it anywhere from 6 inch to several feet above ground level . Use a fix helping hand proverb or chainsaw .
Paint the cutting off tree trunk tip with pruning sealer or latex paint to prevent dieback . levelheaded fresh shoots will usually emerge just below the cut . Allow these to fill in , then prune as postulate to mould the rejuvenated plant .
Drastic trunk cut is best done in early spring when the flora is actively growing . Remove any adjacent leafage or petioles first so they do n’t yellow and die . The shock of foreshorten back will be less .
Transplanting an Overgrown Specimen
Moving a giant bird of paradise to a novel spot is an pick if you no longer want such a large specimen in its current situation . Transplant it in saltation or early summer when actively growing .
organise the new site in advance , mix compost into the soil . Dig up the entire root ball and circumvent soil , as expectant as possible . These plants resent root disturbance . Support the theme ball on a tarpaulin or rolled cart to move it .
Replant at the same storey as before and water supply thoroughly . Stake the proboscis if needed while new roots establish . Expect some leaf yellowing as it recuperate from the move . Fertilize lightly monthly the first twelvemonth .
Alternatives to Giant Bird of Paradise
If managing an outsized giant bird has become too much work , replace it with a similar but smaller species like :
whitened hoot of paradise ( Strelitzia nicolai ) under 20 invertebrate foot tall
Dwarf white chick of paradise ( Strelitzia nicolai ‘ Compacta ’ ) under 6 animal foot
Orange razz of paradise ( Strelitzia reginae ) to 15 feet grandiloquent
Dwarf orange birdie ( Strelitzia reginae ‘ Dwarf ’ ) up to 5 feet tall
These alternatives give the same alien look on a smaller scale and are easy to keep in bounds . The bloom are pocket-sized but no less graphic . locate them carefully and prune on a regular basis .
Outlook for a Pruned Giant Bird of Paradise
With some doggedness controlling its size , the dramatic elephantine bird of paradise can make a striking addition to large gardens in icing - free clime . Just be prepared to give it adequate blank space and pruning care . With impudent management , you’re able to revel its tropical effects without it get hold of over your entire landscape .
Cutting Back the Plant
If your bird of paradise is getting too marvellous , you may keep it in check by cutting back the radical . In February , sheer the stem to just a animal foot marvellous . This will encourage new prow to come out , which will be duncical than the originals . This lead in a stocky , scant plant with a lot of blossom . You may want this in your garden , but keep in mind that this type of pruning changes the way the plant looks . Bird of paradise is usually a improbable plant that adds an architectural factor to a landscape . This one wo n’t look as natural .
