Bird of Paradise — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Strelitzia reginae |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 30–90 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 18.3–26.7 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 730–1460 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 61–91.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 91.4–152.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 61–121.9 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 9–11 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Division |
Growing directions
Plant in well-drained, moderately fertile, slightly acidic to neutral soil in full sun; bird of paradise is one of the most internationally recognized flowering plants in horticulture — the floral emblem of Los Angeles, a staple of tropical-theme gardens worldwide, and one of the most distinctive and immediately identifiable flowers produced by any plant. The flowers emerge from a horizontal, boat-shaped, green-purple spathe (the 'beak' of the 'bird') on a tall, stiff scape held above the large, oval, paddle-shaped, blue-green leaves on long petioles. The flower itself consists of three vivid, saturated-orange sepals arranged in a fan and three blue-purple petals — two fused into a pointed, arrow-shaped structure that projects forward — the overall composition creating an unmistakable resemblance to the head and crest of a tropical bird, complete with orange 'crown' and blue 'beak'. The flower's elaborate structure is adapted for pollination by sunbirds in its native South Africa: the weight of the bird on the blue petal structure exposes the pollen-covered anthers that dust the bird's feet. Native to the coastal and riverine scrub of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, it grows in full sun, lean, well-drained soil, and tolerates considerable drought when established. In zone 9 Gulf Coast gardens it is a reliable, long-lived, repeating-bloom perennial that produces its extraordinary flowers throughout the year when mature.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · strelitzia-reginae
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0