Strelitzia reginae is popularly known as the bird of paradise, bird’s tongue flower, and crane flower. It is native to South Africa and belongs to strelitziaceae family. It is an evergreen plant and has slow growth. Its inflorescence makes it look like a bird’s head, and that’s how the plant got its name. Though people often call it a ‘banana tree’ due to its close resemblance to the banana plant.
It flowers in the late winter or early spring, and if it gets a suitable environment, it can flower in every season. The flowers are orange and blue/ purple in colour. The leaves of the plant spring up from the soil without any trunk. In 1773, it was introduced to Europe and became a decorative plant in places with warm climates.
How to care bird of paradise
Strelitzia can grow indoors and outdoors when carefully examined. The average height of the plants is 5 to 6 feet. It requires moist soil and loves humid environments.
LIGHT
To bloom, the plant requires bright direct sunlight.
The plant needs to be in the shade during middays in summer, as hot summer sunlight can burn the plant’s new leaves. Keep the plant in the room with windows facing east or west. Keeping your plant in the north or south-facing window won’t provide enough sunlight for its growth.
| Pro tip: Plant the bird of paradise in a container that can be shifted outside in summer and brought inside in the winter season. This will improve the survival rate of the plant. |
SOIL
The soil should be kept moist throughout the summer season by watering regularly. Keep the soil dry in fall and winter before watering the plant. Overwatering the plant turns the leaves brown, and underwatering will turn the leaves yellow.
TEMPERATURE
Maintain a humid environment around the plant. If kept in a dry atmosphere, spray the plant at regular intervals.
The bird of paradise cannot bear cold and maintain a temperature above 60ºF. 70-90ºF is ideal for the plant’s growth.
| Pro tip: Too hot and cold water makes the plant uncomfortable. Keep the plant away from furnaces, vents and open windows in the winter season. |
PRUNING
The flowers last for about three weeks before shedding the petals. Plants grow fast when they don’t have any damaged or dead plant matter. So, it is important to eliminate these plant substances regularly. Use only sharp cutting instruments for pulling leaves. Loppers, hand pruners or pruning saws are recommended to trim down the plant if you want to.
Varieties of Bird of paradise
Among its five varieties, only two species of bird of paradise grow indoors.
- Strelitzia reginae ‘Glauca’: This species’ flowers are orange and have powdery grey branches and stems.
- Strelitzia reginae ‘Humilis’ or ‘Pygmaea’: This plant is also orange but can grow about 3 feet.
- Strelitzia reginae ‘Ovata’: The plant’s leaves have rounded blades.
- Strelitzia juncea: The plant does not have leaf blades and looks like reeds.
- Strelitzia caudata: It has a height of 25 feet and grows in high regions of South Africa. The flowers are white and blue in colour. This is the rarest species of the plant.
With little care the bird of paradise will add a glow to your life.
