Gardening Flowers Perennials How to Grow and Care for Bird of Paradise Grow bird of paradise for its large leaves and beautiful, long-lasting flowers. By Adrienne Jordan Adrienne Jordan Adrienne Jordan is a lifestyle and travel writer with more than 8 years of experience. She covers home and shopping trends for Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, and more. She has also written for many travel publications, including National Geographic Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Hollyanna McCollom Hollyanna McCollom Hollyanna McCollom is a writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience. As a freelance writer, she specializes in food, pop culture, wellness, DIY craft, and sustainable living. She is the author of the Moon Portland travel guide (now in its 4th edition) and previously served as editor-in-chief of PDX Magazine, as well as the editorial lead for several other small publications and projects. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 6, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants Frequently Asked Questions Bird of paradise plants are hard to miss, with their large leaves and beautiful, spiky, colorful blooms that resemble birds on the wing. With indirect sunlight and weekly watering, a bird of paradise can grow well as a houseplant. It makes a bold focal point, adding a tropical touch wherever you grow it. A moderate level of maintenance is required to keep your plant healthy. All bird of paradise plants are native to tropical and subtropical areas of southeastern Africa. The common name, bird of paradise, is attributed to several plants in the Strelitzia genus. Of the 5 recognized species (S. reginae, S. juncea, S. nicolai, S. caudata, and S. alba), the first two are the easiest to grow as houseplants. It's also worth noting that bird of paradise plants are considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, so exercise caution when using it as a houseplant or planting it near stables or trails. Bird of Paradise Overview Genus Name Strelitzia Common Name Bird of Paradise Plant Type Houseplant, Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 6 to 30 feet Width 3 to 5 feet Flower Color Orange, White, Yellow Foliage Color Blue/Green, Gray/Silver Season Features Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom, Winter Bloom Special Features Cut Flowers, Good for Containers Zones 10, 11 Propagation Division, Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Deer Resistant Denny Schrock Where to Plant Bird of Paradise Bird of paradise plants are hardy outdoors only in Zones 10 and 11. In these climates, you will need a spot that gets full sun but is not so hot that the plant could scorch. In other warm regions (such as some areas of central Florida, southern Louisiana, southern Texas, Arizona, and parts of the western coast of California) it may still be possible to grow bird of paradise plants outdoors, but their growth may be stunted and developing flowers may be damaged by cooler temperatures. How and When to Plant Bird of Paradise When planting a container-grown bird of paradise plant outdoors, you can put it in the ground in the spring or early summer. To make it easier to remove the plant from its nursery container (and reduce the risk of shocking the plant), water it thoroughly before removing it from the container. Dig a hole about 6 feet from other plants so the bird of paradise has plenty of room to grow. You will want to make the hole as deep and approximately twice as wide as the root ball. Don’t make the hole too deep or the plant may be slow to flower. Bird of Paradise Care Tips Bird of paradise plants have the look of fussy tropical plants, but they are relatively simple to care for in the right growing conditions. The foliage can stretch to 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide in some species (giant species, like S. nicolai, can grow to 20 or 30 feet tall), so make sure you have plenty of room for it to stretch its leaves wherever you grow it. Light Strelitzia species prefer to have ample sunlight but as an understory plant, direct sunlight can burn their leaves. Whether you're growing it indoors or outdoors, a bird of paradise plant will do best in very bright indirect sunlight with shaded protection during the most intensely sunny times of the day (usually the afternoon). If you’re growing a bird of paradise inside (all year round or only during the winter), you might want to invest in a grow light. But if you have a bright, sunny window and decent winter sunlight, you can skip the artificial light. Avoid north-facing windows where the light may be insufficient. The 11 Best Grow Lights to Help Your Plants Thrive, Based on Testing Soil and Water Bird of paradise plants grow best in rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5. to 7.5. While they are growing, water your bird of paradise plants often enough to keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. If you are keeping your plant in bright sunlight, you may need to water it more often. You can taper off on watering during the fall and winter months, allowing the soil to dry out a little. Just pay attention to how the plant responds. If it is getting too much or too little moisture, the leaves will begin to yellow and die. Mature plants are more drought tolerant and may not need to be watered at all in the winter months if your region gets sufficient rainfall. Temperature and Humidity Bird of paradise is a tropical plant that is hardy in temperatures over 60°F but does best in temperatures between 65 and 80°F. It craves a humid environment, so indoor-grown plants should be set on a pebble tray or near a humidifier. The 10 Best Humidifiers for Plants of 2024 Fertilizer Use an all-purpose fertilizer for your bird of paradise, but you don’t need to fertilize it often. You can fare well with something like a 5-5-5 or a 10-10-10. For the amount to use, follow product label directions. Pruning Prune your established bird of paradise plant regularly to keep it looking its best and to encourage new growth. You should also remove dead leaves and old flower stalks to reduce the risk of fungal organisms. Prune the leaf stem or flower stalk at the base of the plant. If your plant is getting too big, remove outer leaves to reduce the overall size. It's best to do this in the early spring before new growth begins. Potting and Repotting In containers, bird of paradise plants can be kept to manageable houseplant sizes. For example, when grown indoors or as potted patio plants, S. reginae tends to be shorter, which makes it great for smaller spaces. S. nicolai is much taller and has leaves that can reach 2-3 feet long, which makes it better for bigger spaces. To repot a bird of paradise that has outgrown its container, choose another pot with drainage holes that's a little larger. Slide the plant out of its container and gently loosen the roots with your fingers. Set the root ball in the new pot and use fresh potting mix to fill in around the roots. Water the plant well to help the soil settle around the roots. The 5 Best Soil for Succulents of 2024 Pests and Problems Outdoors, bird of paradise plants are relatively pest-free, although they can be prone to developing fungal leaf spot and gray mold. Remove any infected leaves from the plant as well as any fallen leaves. It’s also a good idea to avoid overhead watering. Make sure the plant has sufficient airflow between it and other plants. When it comes to pests, you’re more likely to have issues with them when growing bird of paradise indoors. Mealybugs and scale are the most common pests you may encounter on your plant. Use a cotton bud or paper towel dipped in isopropyl alcohol to wipe off pests. Neem oil can also help if it's a heavy infestation. Propagating Bird of Paradise Similar to the bird of paradise’s close relatives, bananas, gingers, Maranta, and Heliconia, you can propagate it by cutting off a piece of its rhizome (thick underground stem). Place the rhizome into another pot of moist potting mix, where it will start growing roots and leaves. To grow bird of paradise plants from seed, you will need a lot of patience because it can take 2 to 3 months for the seeds to germinate and several years (perhaps as long as 5 or 6 years) for the plant to bloom. Bird of paradise seeds are black with a mohawk of orange fuzz on one end. Prep the seeds by soaking them for 24-48 hours and then removing the orange tufts and nicking the seeds with a sharp knife. Plant the seeds in a planting tray at a depth of 1/2 inch to 1 inch and keep the seeds consistently moist until they begin to germinate. To create a more humid environment for the seeds, place a clear plastic bag over the container and set it in a warm area that gets indirect sunlight. You can transplant your seedlings to individual grow pots when they have at least a couple of leaves. Types of Bird of Paradise 'Mandela's Gold' Bird of Paradise Denny Schrock Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold' is a yellow blooming variety of the commonly orange blooming bird of paradise. Zones 10-11 Orange Bird of Paradise Edward Gohlich Strelitzia reginae offers brilliantly colored flowers on 3-foot-tall stalks in winter, spring, and summer. It grows 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zones 10-11 White Bird of Paradise Gordon Beall Strelitzia nicolai grows like a tree with a fan of 5-foot-long leaves. It produces white flowers in spring and grows 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Zones 10-11 Bird of Paradise Companion Plants Daylily Peter Krumhardt Daylilies are so easy to grow you'll often find them growing in ditches and fields, escapees from gardens. And yet they look so delicate, producing trumpet-shape blooms in myriad colors. Although each bloom lasts but a single day, superior cultivars carry numerous buds on each scape so bloom time is long, especially if you deadhead daily. The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous. Kangaroo Paw Edward Gohlich Make a bold statement in your garden with kangaroo paw. This unusual perennial comes from Australia and bears strappy green leaves and upright spikes of fuzzy flowers in radioactively brilliant colors. The blooms last a long time and make great cut flowers. Sago Palm Edward Gohlich Complete the tropical look by pairing bird-of-paradise with a showy sago palm. Although this plant looks like a tiny palm tree with its glossy, stiff fronds, it's actually a cycad. It's easy to grow as a houseplant, but be careful because the sago palm is toxic if ingested. Society Garlic Peter Krumhardt The leaves of this South African native bulb look like chives, and if you brush its foliage while walking by, you'll catch a whiff of garlic. However, the beautiful clusters of lavender-pink flowers have a sweet fragrance, similar to the scent of hyacinth blossoms. They open on tall stems from early summer until late fall. Noted for its drought tolerance, society garlic has become a staple in southern California landscapes. Frequently Asked Questions How long do bird of paradise plants live? Bird of paradise plants are slow-growing and can take as many as 5 or 6 years before beginning to bloom. With proper care, a bird of paradise plant can live for decades and giant bird of paradise plants (S. nicolai) have been reported to live as long as 50 to 150 years. Why is my bird of paradise plant not flowering? There are a couple of things that could inhibit flower growth on mature, established bird of paradise plants—namely too much shade, a lack of fertilizer, or improper watering. If your bird of paradise plant is still young, it may just need a little more time to get established before it starts to bloom. Even in ideal conditions, it can take as long as five or six years before a bird of paradise plant starts blooming regularly. How do I remove an old, overgrown bird of paradise plant? Occasionally, overgrown bird of paradise plants stop producing blooms because their root systems become so compacted that they can’t take in enough nutrients. When this happens, you may need to divide the plant or discard it—which can be tricky because the root ball will be dense and heavy. Prune the plant to ground level and saturate the soil for 30 minutes a day for 2 days before attempting to dig it up. Measure out a 10-inch radius from the base of the plant, mark it, and begin digging straight down along the radius. You may need to dig down about 18 to 24 inches, so contact your local utility company if necessary before digging. Rock the root ball back and forth until you can get a shovel under it and lift the root ball out. You may need a mattock, pickaxe, or reciprocating saw to get through the roots. Be sure to remove any rhizomes left in the soil or else the plant may return. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Bird of paradise flower. ASPCA. (n.d.).