Strelitzia reginae

Bird of Paradise, Crane Flower

Message of the Flower

Supramental Bird

The Mother’s Comment

It remains where it has descended.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

The Supramental by its very definition is Truth Consciousness, Truth in possession of itself and fulfilling itself by its own power.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Descent and Transformation

The Supermind is in its very essence a truth-consciousness, a consciousness always free from the Ignorance which is the foundation of our present natural or evolutionary existence and from which nature in us is trying to arrive at self-knowledge and world-knowledge and a right consciousness and the right use of our existence in the universe. The Supermind, because it is a truth-consciousness, has this knowledge inherent in it and this power of true existence; its course is straight and can go direct to its aim, its field is wide and can even be made illimitable. This is because its very nature is knowledge: it has not to acquire knowledge but possesses it in its own right…

Sri Aurobindo, Essays in Philosophy and Yoga: Supermind and the Life Divine

Colour

Orange and blue

Family

Strelitziaceae

Cultivars

Mandela's Gold', 'Dwarf', 'Juncea', 'Kirstenbosch Gold'.

Person who named the flower

Named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Flower Size

Large and showy

Flower Texture

Smooth and waxy

Number of Petals

Three orange petals and three blue sepals

Floral Symmetry

Bilateral symmetry

Fragrance of Flower

Mild, with a scent resembling that of a banana

Leaf Texture

Thick and leathery

Leaf Arrangement

Alternating

Leaf Color

Deep green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial with a woody stem

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Spring through summer, with sporadic flowering throughout the year

Climate

Native to subtropical and tropical regions but cultivated in various climates

Water Requirements

Regular watering and high humidity

Soil Type

Well-draining soil

Temperature Ranges

Thrives in warm temperatures but can tolerate mild frost

Sun or Shade

full sun to partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

aphids, mealybugs, and fungal diseases

Pollinators

Birds and insects

Habitat

Native to South Africa

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar and perches for birds and insects

Endangered Status

not considered endangered