Strelitzia is species of perennial plants native to South Africa. The genus is named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, birth place of Queen Charlotte of Great Britain.
The leaves are large and similar to a banana leaf they are arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage. The stunning flowers, because of their supposed resemblance, gives the plant it’s common name of bird of paradise flower, especially the orange coloured Strelitzia reginae. Here is an image of our Strelitzia reginae, which flowered earlier in the year.
Below: Strelitzia Augusta (Alba) which has a less impressive flower, but the plant grows taller and gives superb foliage.