Melissa Rasche, via email

On a recent holiday we saw this beautiful bird of paradise. It was a large plant, and the ‘beak’ was about 30cm long. Truly amazing. Can you tell me more?

Elizabeth Swane says

It’s a Strelitzia nicolai or the giant white bird of paradise. It grows to 6m tall and 3m wide. Many nurseries in coastal areas of eastern Australia and Perth stock it, or they can order one for you.