There is a kooky poignancy to the city flower of Los Angeles. No other plant comes quite so close as the bird of paradise to having the actual aspect of an animal. It’s like a bird, yes — a crane — ...

A. The bird of paradise that has bananalike foliage and birdlike orange and blue blooms is Strelitzia reginae. Sow fresh seed. The seed is hard and needs soaking in warm water for three days before ...

Don’t expect to find beautiful bunches of bananas, ripe or otherwise, dangling from the Natal wild banana tree. Its long leaf stalks and broad, shiny green leaves might mislead you, but the Strelitzia ...