Giant Bird of Paradise

KerryF · Feb 22, 2011 1:47 pm

I know everyone's going to say 'don't do it!!!', but Bunnings has these on sale for under $17 at the moment.

I've been thinking about getting some BoP for a jungly bit and this is tempting me, even though I know that they can grow into monsters and have invasive roots.

So, I was wondering if anyone in Melbourne, particularly the colder wetter bits, had experience of growing these? If I was to plant it under a huge gum tree, would that keep it under control? Other alternative is to plant it up the back of the garden, where we only have a wire fence, and let it spread through the neighbours back yard too (they probably won't mind seeing as they've got several plants doing the same to us at the same place :roll:

).

Also, if it was anywhere near a frog pond and dry creek bed, would it come out through that, or would it stop when it hit air and then sucker up from there?

Is there any way to keep them under control, or are you just stuck with them once you plant them?

Thanks in advance

kay-you · Feb 22, 2011 4:30 pm

Kerry I think there is a dwarf form that you may find more suitable, although I don't know if roots would still be a problem.

Personally I dislike them. Partly I don't like the look of the leaves, but mostly because I used to have a giant one in a previous house and it was home to heaps of RATS....yuck. ::hyst::

KerryF · Feb 22, 2011 5:31 pm

It's labelled S. nicolai, but the description is more like S. reginae. I'm considering whether or not to buy it, plant it in a safe place, then see what happens.

I really like them, even if they harbour families of rats :lol:

keen · Feb 22, 2011 6:21 pm

nicolai is the big one.
They are awesome, tropical look and big shady leaves but hardy and waterwise too. I love em.

KerryF · Feb 22, 2011 7:43 pm

I know that nicolai is the big one :lol:

What I want to know is if anyone has any experience growing them in Melbourne and what problems with invasive roots & spreading habit, if any, they had.

There are reginae growing all around the Healesville Animal Sanctuary in the Yarra Ranges and they've been easily contained by pavers, however I understand that the nicolai isn't deterred by pavers, fences, concrete, swimming pools, houses, garages... And I'm reluctant to plant it where I had intended as a result.

TheGardenWhisperer · Feb 22, 2011 10:16 pm

I have previously posted a pic of one in Scarborough that is massive! It consumes most of the garden. Big block too. Do a search for the S. nic and my username.

First_Timer_Ray · Feb 23, 2011 8:10 am

There is one in Wilson Botanic park in Berwick (it used to be a quarry site). I too had wondered about the nicoli- the idea of a white version appealed to me.
When I saw the one in the gardens there in Berwick (it's a the corner where the pond/lake starts) I changed my mind. It was as tall as a double storey building and about 4-5m wide. It seemed to be contained to the garden bed (surrounded on 2 sides by path) but I have no idea what sort of maintenance has been done on it. If you were serious about it I'd ask some hort people in your area or ring the above mentioned park and ask for some advice about growing it.

KerryF · Feb 23, 2011 9:13 am

Fu Manchu

I have previously posted a pic of one in Scarborough that is massive! It consumes most of the garden. Big block too. Do a search for the S. nic and my username.

Nope... for the life of me I can't find it. I've searched s. nicolai, bird of paradise and scarborough, all with your user name and the landscape & gardening forum. I get some brief references and one post where you mention your grandparents having one in Scarborough in the 70s, and you maybe having posted a pic of another BoP in Scarborough somewhere.... :roll:

Ray - from what I read, around 5m with 6m of height is it's limit. They won't expand more than that because of the issue of getting nutrients in I guess...? But I wonder how often they had to cut it back and remove part of the roots to stop it damaging the path.

The white doesn't appeal - I prefer the orange flowers. The whole problem is that they've (typical Bunnings) stuck a description that matches one plant, on a label naming a different plant. How do I know which is right?! They didn't know when I asked!!

I really want to give one a go, but I'm a bit scared of having to dig it out in a year or so. I'm still going to be digging out the aggies and cape honeysuckle that some other idiot planted!! :evil:

KerryF · Feb 23, 2011 11:08 am

That's the problem with the nicolai, which is why I don't want to make a heinous mistake!

I guess it could be an S. alba, as opposed to S. nicolai based on the description, but it's definitely one of the two based on the size of the stems and leaves on the plants (they're in 250mm pots).

You know, I might just give it a go, plant it up the back of the garden where it's not going to cause problems with anything or our future plans, and let it go for it. See how well it does when competing with existing, very well establised, large, plants and trees.

Hmmm.... :th:

Edit:

I emailed Steve Sayers, of Sayers-Strelitzia, and he said:
"I sell 90% of my stock in to Melbourne, if the Nicolai is sheltered from frost in the younger years it should be OK. The roots are not the problem it is the whole plant that the roots come out of, I have never seen roots in pipes. It will take a lot of room in the garden, just keep taking the suckers off where you do not want it to grow and it will grow in the direction that you want. The weather will keep it under control a little, it will not grow as high and will be slower growing."

I asked for clarification on the roots issue:
"They will travel a long way, but I have not seen them get into trouble, perhaps some people do, I find it is the clump [that] can be a problem."

So, I think I am going to take the risk and plant one up the back garden, near to the fence line. It can sucker into our neighbours all it likes and give their little dog something to run around (will have to compete with the huge lilly pilly, clumps of ginger, a huge oil plant thingie that I've forgotten then name of and our E. obliqua), but will pull all the suckers out that we see. The fence there will be replaced (by one not containing barbed wire!!!) at some point in the near future, but will see what happens!

Watch this space....

kek · Feb 23, 2011 6:26 pm

I have one, but it's only been in for a bit less than a year, so I can't comment on its invasiveness or otherwise.

It survived last winter no probs though, so the cold weather didn't bother it.

KerryF · Feb 25, 2011 11:51 am

I went and got one....

It's going to sit in a temporary position until I'm happy that the permanent site is weed free (there's too much trad and a broom that's been drilled and filled at the moment). There's already 5 leaves, 3 with long stems that are over a meter long and another leaf on it's way.

Will post a pic once I've found batteries for the camera and progress updates once in situ so everyone can watch as I (probably) live to regret buying one!!

TinaG · Mar 02, 2011 3:22 pm

I had one and the dog ate in one day! :lol:

KerryF · Mar 02, 2011 7:16 pm

Lol!!

How small was it for the dog to manage to eat it?!

TinaG · Mar 03, 2011 3:03 pm

It was about 1.5m. Once she had ripped the leaves off the trunk wasn't too hard to destroy.

KerryF · Mar 03, 2011 5:57 pm

Oh dear, glad I haven't got a dog...

Though that said, I may borrow someone else's and set it on the plant if it gets too out of control!! :lol:

garden lover · Mar 03, 2011 9:17 pm

Living in Nthn NSW they are everywhere up here. The Giants are huge. I have the much smaller reginae. Is about 15 years old. Easy to control above the ground. I have been told there is all sorts of things happening under the ground though. It will be getting pulled up in the next few months when we extend our house. So I'm interested to see what the root system is actually like.

Our one is in a partly shaded spot, facing south. I have seen ones around town in full sun and they are about 5 times as big as my one.

I have heard lots of negatives about he BoP's. But that flower is beautiful, and the birds love them. I've planted a dwarf variety in our pool area which is now landscaped with a tropical theme.

KerryF · Mar 07, 2011 1:53 pm

Can you post pics of the roots please garden lover? Might be interesting for everyone to see.

Dreamer · Dec 30, 2011 4:32 pm

Just adding to this thread.

We had three at our old house. When we bought it we didn't realise they were the 'giant' kind! One didn't grow as big as the others as it was partially covered by another tree.

January 2007

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April 2011 (you can see it over to the right)

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I actually liked them. Didn't realise they could be damaging? Was Googling them as we were thinking of putting some into our new place and came across this thread!