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white bird-of-paradise

plant
Also known as: Strelitzia alba

Quick Summary

The white bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia alba) is an ornamental plant native to South Africa, belonging to the Strelitziaceae family. It is cultivated for its attractive foliage and distinctive flowers. This species, along with the giant bird-of-paradise (S. nicolai), features white or cream-colored blooms. The plant grows from rhizomes to a height of about 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) and has stiff, leathery leaves. The flowers have two erect petals and five stamens, emerging from a boat-shaped bract that is green with red borders. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous seeds. It is important to note that the desert bird-of-paradise, or bird-of-paradise bush, is an unrelated shrub.1

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