Strelitzia nicolai is the largest species in the genus, an evergreen, multi-stemmed tree-like plant up to about 10 to 12 m tall that forms dense clumps, native to the coast of southeastern Africa. Its smooth gray stems carry enormous, glossy gray-green, banana-like leaves on long stalks, with blades up to 2 m long that often tear in the wind. The inflorescence, up to 50 cm long, consists of several purplish blue, boat-shaped spathes from which flowers with white sepals and a blue tongue emerge. Flowering is sporadic through the year. The black seeds bear a bright orange woolly aril. The epithet honours Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaievich, son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. Sunbirds visit the flowers for nectar. The species tolerates salty coastal winds and some drought but not severe frost, and its aggressive roots should be kept away from structures when grown outdoors.
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