Strelitzia is a genus of five species of perennial plants, indigenous to South Africa. The name Strelitzia was given to honour Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England. She was from the house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower, because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the bird of paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower. The flowers are ideal for cut flowers and last up to 20 days in a vase. They can all be grown in large pots or tubs but will require regular feeding and irrigation. There are three tree-like Strelitzia species Strelitzia alba, Strelitzia caudata and Strelitzia nicolai. The other two species Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia juncea are shrub-like tufted clump-forming species. In 1994 Kirstenbosch released a yellow variety of Strelitzia reginae which in 1996 was named Mandela’s Gold in honour of Nelson Mandela. Strelitzias are easy plants to grow in the garden. Plants do well in full sun to semi-shade, love a rich loamy soil and plenty of water throughout the year. They respond well to regular feeding with a slow release fertilizer and compost. They are however very tolerant plants and will thrive in most soils and can survive with very little water once established. The plants are also wind resistant and grow well in coastal gardens. Strelitzias are sensitive to cold and would need a sheltered position in areas with frost as the flowers and leaves are often damaged by frost. In very cold climates it is better to grow them in pots that could be moved indoors when freezing temperatures are expected.

Strelitzia reginae Mandela’s Gold is a rare yellow form of the well-known crane flower, Strelitzia reginae. This easy grower likes full sun and flowers twice a year. It can take some drought so don’t over water. The only successful way to get yellow progeny is to isolate yellow flowering Strelizia plants and to cross pollinate them by hand. The seeds on offer here are from isolated hand pollinated plants. In the 1970’s the then curator of Kirstenbosch, John Winter, began a project to increase the amount of yellow flowering strelitzias. It took nearly twenty years of careful selection and hand-pollination, and in 1994 the original stock had been built up enough to enable them to introduce the yellow strelitzia to horticulture. It was originally released under the name ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’ until 1996 when it was renamed it in honour of Nelson Mandela.