Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
Family Strelitziaceae
Bird of paradise brings the resort home: enormous paddle-shaped leaves with true tropical swagger, 3 to 5 feet of statement plant that styles a room even before it ever thinks about flowering. And when it does flower — that orange-and-blue crested bloom — it's the most dramatic thing a living room can produce.
Honesty up front: the bloom is a reward for patience. It flowers only mature, root-bound, and standing in the very brightest light you own — a sunroom, not a dim corner. The foliage carries the show meanwhile, though it's mildly unfriendly to nibbling pets. Claim your brightest window and start the countdown.
Full Sun / brightest window — bloom demands it
Moderate water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing bird of paradise? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries bird of paradise — Strelitzia reginae, print Nº 50, “Bird of Paradise.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what bird of paradise actually needs.
Life cyclePerennial zones 10–12, annual elsewhereBird of Paradise · Common problems
Common bird of paradise problems
Pests
3 problems on file
Diseases
1 problem on file
Bird of Paradise · Growing & propagation
Growing bird of paradise
- Light
- Full Sun / brightest window
Bloom demands it
- Water
- Moderate in growth
Drier in winter
Soil- Rich, well-drained · pH 5.5 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Monthly in season
It's a heavy feeder to bloom
Pruning- As needed
Remove spent leaves at the base; divide only when you must — it blooms best pot-bound.
Spacing- One per large pot
How to plant & propagate bird of paradise
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Bird of Paradise · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The bird of paradise growing playbook
When to spray bird of paradise
Growing season. Bright light + patience is the bloom program.
Bird of Paradise · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Bird of Paradise · Yearly calendar
The bird of paradise year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for bird of paradise — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
Bird of Paradise · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Strelitzia reginae
Bird of Paradise in the garden system
Attracts- Birds
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What bird of paradise is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesMildly toxic to cats/dogs
Use- Statement foliage
- Use
- Sunrooms
- Use
- Rare blooms
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Bird of Paradise · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a bird of paradise variety
S. reginae (orange, standard); S. nicolai (giant white, tree-sized)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Strelitzia reginae
- Plant family
- Strelitziaceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Tender Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- STRE5
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Bird of Paradise
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Bird of Paradise questions, answered straight.
Is bird of paradise safe for kids and pets?
With care. Mildly toxic to cats/dogs Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate bird of paradise?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where bird of paradise sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron