Rare Tropical Plant Flowering in Minot Greenhouse

It's about the last place you'd expect to find a rare tropical plant that can grow more than 20 f...  More »

It's about the last place you'd expect to find a rare tropical plant that can grow more than 20 feet high, but one is right here in the Magic City. This White Bird of Paradise is housed at the Minot City Park District Greenhouse after being donated by an area horticulturist. When the plant arrived about 7 years ago it was only about six feet tall and has since grown to overtake its' surroundings and is 18 and a half feet high. But what is even more spectacular is this enormous plant is blooming for the first time ever. Steve Wharton the grounds manager says he nearly missed this extremely rare event because the blossoms were on the far side of the plant hidden by other vegetation. Wharton says the White Bird of Paradise doesn't bloom every year and doesn't have a usual cycle and it could be the first and last for the gigantic plant. (Steve Wharton, Minot Park District Park Grounds Manager) For us to have is a great thing but now to have it come into bloom is a real rarity to see one come into bloom. They don't have a natural blooming cycle so we don't know if this bloom again or now that it has started it will maybe bloom once a year for now on. The White Bird of Paradise will be in bloom for another 7 to ten days. Wharton says if you would like to see it you can contact him at the Minot Parks Department to make an appointment.  « Less