Identification: Can anyone ID this large houseplant?

I bought this plant over a year ago and I've been trying to figure out exactly what it is ever since. To date it has never shown any sign of flowering. I'm also having problems with all of the leaves tearing horizontally by themselves so if anyone has any advice on that I would definitely appreciate it!

 

consider bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae

 

I agree Strelitzia, but more likely S. nicholai. I'd say it's very
unlikely to bloom indoors unless in a greenhouse or sunroom.

HTH
Chris

 

Yes it won't flower indoors because mine has just started flowering and it is over 2 metres high and in full sun. I don't know why the leaves are tearing if it is indoors as this is usually due to wind. Enjoy it though

Ed

 

Right on to both of you! I have about ten Strelitzia nicholai wth two Strelitzia reginae planted near them in my tropical atrium and they bloom only ocassionally. That is because the building is constructed of GE Lexan Thermoclear™. The Thermoclear™ is not quite as tranlucent as glass but the plants still don't bloom because they want direct sunglight. The Strelitzia nicholai have grown all the way to the ceiling which is close to 17 feet in order to try to grab that sunlight! But if the grower gets real lucky and does grow an inflorescence they can quickly tell the difference since Strelitzia reginae will produce a colored inflorescence (and stays smaller) while Strelitzia nicholai will produce a white inflorescence. They are often sold as "house plants" but don't make great ones. Before we moved, in our yard in Florida we had over 30 and they bloomed all the time! At Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami they have an enormous display of both right at the entrance in bloom all the time. But those are in full sun.

 

Thanks for all of the help!

I keep the plant right near a window that is open all summer (usually with a fan in it) so it gets a fairy steady wind, which would explain the tears I suppose. That and it is usually pretty dry here.

I don't mind that it likely won't bloom, though I'm not denying that it would be nice if it did. It's a nice, graceful looking plant as is.

Thanks again for the help with IDing it!