Make sure you watch your children and pets carefully around them. One word of caution about growing a bird of paradise is that it can be toxic if consumed in large amounts by people or pets. We haven’t reached that point yet but we’re hopeful that Ethel will bloom in her own time. The bird of paradise will reward your patience and diligence with beautiful, vibrant flowers. This is when watering and sunlight is especially critical for the flowers to bloom. The beautiful bird-like flowers they produce will only bloom after the plant has matured to about five years old. She doesn’t seem that upset about it though, as you can tell by her growing size. The optimal growth for a bird of paradise is in a pot indoors, being moved outside for the summer months and then inside for the dormant season.Īs my Ethel is already touching the ceiling, and the pot is very heavy, we aren’t able to take her outside for a bit of summer sun. They are relatively easy to care for, but the most important thing that they do need is sun exposure. They can be grown inside and in a wide variety of environments, however, the biggest challenge owners face when growing indoors is their size.īirds of paradise can grow well over 6 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide! This is what drew me to them when I was looking for a plant for our sunroom. Bird of Paradise Plant Growthīird of paradise plants are easily recognizable by their large, glossy, green leaves and vivid, fanned out flowers. In Hawaii, where Georgia O’Keeffe famously painted White Bird of Paradise, they stand for magnificence and a positive outlook on life.
In South Africa, it’s native country, they represent joy and paradise, hence the name. Strelitzia comes from Queen Charlotte, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.ĭepending on where in the world you are, birds of paradise take on different meanings and representations. Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia nicolai, its scientific names, were given by Sir Joseph Banks, one of the directors of the royal gardens.
This plant is so beloved in South Africa that it’s been grown at their Royal Botanic Gardens since the eighteenth century. There is also a type of bird of paradise, Strelitzia nicolai, that blooms white bird flowers. When the flower blooms each of the petals fan out, and the result looks a lot like a bird in flight. Its flowers are made of three bright cantaloupe-orange petals, and three royal blue petals that are fused into one bud. Originating in South Africa, the bird of paradise gets its name from the way its flowers bloom. Bird of Paradise Originsīirds of paradise are hardy, long-lasting plants that will adapt to most indoor environments. By subscribing, I consent to receiving emails.
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