Bird of paradise

Add tropical flair to your garden or home with stunning bird of paradise flowers. Named for their resemblance to a flamboyant tropical bird, the long-lasting blooms appear in shades of orange and white. Outdoors, they are a favorite in tropical landscapes because the plants are practically carefree -- just give them a sunny spot with well-drained soil and you'll be rewarded with the exotic blooms.

Indoors, they need a bright spot in order to produce flowers. Many gardeners take their bird of paradise outside for the summer so the plants can soak up the sun. Repot or divide the plants every two to three years if you grow them in a container to prevent them from becoming root-bound.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

10-11

Plant Type:

Perennial, Indoor Plant

Plant Height:

To 30 feet tall, depending on type

Plant Width:

To 15 feet wide, depending on type

Flower Color:

White, Yellow/Gold

Bloom Time:

Winter, Spring, Summer

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers, Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Orange bird of paradise

(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
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White bird of paradise

(Strelitzia nicolai) grows like a tree with a fan of large 5-foot-long leaves. It produces white flowers in spring and grows 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Zones 10-11
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