Are we talking about the same thing? Strelitzias are plants as far as I'm aware - tropical ones, which need to be grown under glass in cooler climes! The common name is 'Bird of Paradise'

I may be totally wrong, but i've never heard of such large ones before???????

Strelitzia nicholai is advertized at 15 feet, but I did see one being moved by a small catapiller (tractor) on Extreme Makeover, House Edition. Mine is now 4 years old from seed and the leaves reach to about 8 feet, and is often mistaken for a banana.

OK...I give in...thanks Wylie. They wouldn't survive outside though, would they?

Crikey! Where's it been to grow so large?

The T&M catalog classifies it as a greenhouse perennial for Zone 11. Since it falls below 50*F/10*C in the UK, I wouldn't think so.

According to Wikipedia, the largest species, S.nikolai, can grow up to 10m tall. Still a challenge to house it appropriately in this country.

if it is really a Strelitzia, and has grown to this size, it must be S, Nikolai ("Giant bird of Paradise"). Native to subtropical S Africa. I have only seen pics here on GOY from California, for example. This will need, I'd think, a botanical garden-sized glasshouse to keep it going. Would love to see a pic/pics??

Hence my initial disbelief, David!