Description

Bird of paradise is an evergreen perennial native to the subtropical coastal regions of South Africa. It is prized for its exotic, crane-like inflorescence that mimics a brightly colored bird in flight—typically orange sepals with vivid blue petals emerging from a green boat-shaped bract. In its native habitat, it thrives in sunny, well-drained locations and is pollinated by sunbirds, which perch on the flower and trigger a mechanism that deposits pollen on their feet. In cultivation, it’s frequently used as a tropical focal point in temperate gardens or grown indoors as a striking ornamental.

Although it resembles banana plants in leaf structure, Strelitzia is more drought-tolerant and slower-growing. It has thick, rhizomatous roots that allow it to store water and persist through dry spells. In ornamental settings, its bold form provides visual contrast among more temperate foliage.