If any plant screams exotic and tropical then Strelitzia reginae is the one. Loved by florists and tropical gardeners the world over this gorgeous exotic has long stalked, grey, green (green when young) paddle shaped leaves and stems up to 1.5 meters tall. The well know flowers are orange and blue and emerge from a beak like spathe usually in Winter and Spring but if the Summer is cool they may continue flowering through the season. If growing in a pot keeping the plant pot bound can also increase the amount of flowers produced.

Grow in a moist but well drained, loam based compost in full sun, moving outside for the summer plunging the pot into a tropical border or as a star attraction on the patio. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month from March until October. Reduce watering from mid Autumn to mid spring keeping the soil on the drier side. If growing under glass during the warmer months mist spray regularly and shade from midday full summer sun. proving quite hardy in sheltered spots in Southern coastal gardens.

Young plant sent in a 9cm pot.