Plant Care Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

4.6 out of 5 (70 experiences)

Bird of Paradise has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Bird of Paradise has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Bird of Paradise

The highly sought after bird of paradise has been cultivated for nearly 250 years. Their showy flowers resemble a bird in flight, and give them their name. These majestic plants are pictured on the 50 cent rand in their native South Africa and are the floral emblem of Los Angeles. In the wild, they’re pollinated by sunbirds, a group of small birds with brightly colored and iridescent feathers. 🦜

Taxonomy

Strelitzia reginae
Strelitzia
Strelitziaceae
Zingiberales

Also known as

Crane Flower

How to care for Bird of Paradise

Water

How often to water your Bird of Paradise

Water needs for Bird of Paradise
0.5 cups
every 9

Bird of Paradise needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Bird of Paradise

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Bird of Paradise in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Bird of Paradise: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Bird of Paradise may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Bird of Paradise in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Bird of Paradise

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bird of Paradise: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Bird of Paradise after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Difficulty Level

Bird of Paradise is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Dormancy
Native Region
Flowers
Growth Pattern
Growing Outdoors
Propagation
Yellow Leaves

Care Summary for Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Bird of Paradise has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 57
Bird of Paradise has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 33
Bird of Paradise has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 17
Bird of Paradise has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 10
Bird of Paradise has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 5
Bird of Paradise has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 3
Bird of Paradise has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
@GoodMostii avatar
@@GoodMostii
leaf-1 13 Plants
xp 244 XP
globe San Antonio, TX
01/14/2022

These can take awhile to grow bigger, but they are wonderful indoor plants and don’t require a harsh amount of watering. Plus when they decide to bloom the flowers are wonderful.

Survivor Survivor
@Jfbydesign avatar
@@Jfbydesign
leaf-1 38 Plants
xp 2,796 XP
globe Lincoln Park, NJ
01/04/2022

You need to be gentle with the leaves if you don’t want the edges to split, but this is such a gorgeous plant. I was told it ia a very slow grower, but if you get it on a good water schedule with a decent amount of light (mine is right in a North facing window) you should get at least a new leaf every quarter. I’ve had mine 6 months and am watching my second set of two new leaves emerging. It is amazing watching these small spears slowly come up from the middle of the plant and eventually start to unfurl their leaf.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Megan avatar
@@Megan
leaf-1 80 Plants
xp 14,613 XP
globe Washington, DC
11/28/2021

This plant is so satisfying to watch grow!

Fast grower Fast grower
@Halfrican_tayy avatar
@@Halfrican_tayy
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 125 XP
11/08/2021

Okay so my birds of paradise plant has amazed me ! I’ve potted her in citrus, palm & cactus soil from Miracle gro since I’ve got her and she’s done great! I feel like I’m very all over the place when watering and she does pretty good ! And sun light ?! She can almost go without I had her in a hot humid garage for a hurricane came back and she sprouted a new leaf in ONE WEEK from being in there ! She get repotted probably every 2.5-3 months and when she does I find she’s ready to grow a new leaf ! She’s come so far and she’s fairly easy to care for ! Only con is finding cheap & cute pots for her as she grows

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
Reeghan avatar
@Reeghan
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 46 XP
globe Honey Brook, PA
08/09/2021

I love this plant so much and the blooms are beautiful! It’s fairly easy and I can’t wait to see it grow to its full size and reach its max potential ❤️❤️

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
@mesophyllbaybee avatar
@@mesophyllbaybee
leaf-1 27 Plants
xp 539 XP
globe Martensville, Saskatchewan
07/29/2021

Mealy bugs have gotten two of mine already ☹️still love them tho

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@KeikoNatsumii avatar
@@KeikoNatsumii
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 109 XP
07/28/2021

Easy to take care of, fill with water to top of roots, keep out of direct sunlight

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Jayme705 avatar
@@Jayme705
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 68 XP
globe Fort Worth, TX
07/28/2021

This plant has never gotten droopy in the few years I’ve had it and there have been periods of neglect - hahah. Easy to care for

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Les59 avatar
@@Les59
leaf-1 16 Plants
xp 2,644 XP
globe Gainesville, FL
06/16/2021

They are hard to kill. And they grow for years.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
David avatar
@David
leaf-1 11 Plants
xp 203 XP
globe Warlingham, England
06/15/2021

They get big very quickly!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Cassiefinz avatar
@@Cassiefinz
leaf-1 34 Plants
xp 1,554 XP
globe Florham Park, NJ
06/15/2021

Such an elegant plant! I keep mine in the sunniest part of my room and water it frequently. One thing i will say is the leaves are very fragile. When i got mine it had many tears and holes which are unfortunately not fixable, but even the new leaves it puts out will rip or tear if not unfurled correctly. Make sure to mist unfurling leaves regularly to avoid that

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@arrex avatar
@@arrex
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 93 XP
globe Seoul
05/18/2021

I don’t think my bird of paradise grew at all(?) but the leaves are looking so healthy! All I did was follow the watering schedule and have it placed right by the window.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@jainacampbell avatar
@@jainacampbell
leaf-1 9 Plants
xp 183 XP
05/04/2021

easy maintenance!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@tortoise avatar
@@tortoise
leaf-1 16 Plants
xp 249 XP
globe Little Rock, AR
04/26/2021

they look a little bland when they’re small but BOY are they pretty when they’re grown :’)

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Shannonnicholson avatar
@@Shannonnicholson
leaf-1 17 Plants
xp 272 XP
globe Manchester, NH
04/20/2021

Love love love bird of paradise. I have a large one and they’re so pretty when their leaves grow big. They are a little finicky about their soil, water, and temps (considering they’re exotic plants that I’m growing in NH!), but once I figured out what it needed it is super easy and beautiful!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Plantsong avatar
@@Plantsong
leaf-1 29 Plants
xp 4,570 XP
04/02/2021

So far so good. I mist it, I’m guessing it needs some humidity? It seems to love direct sunlight.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@SabrinaSherri avatar
@@SabrinaSherri
leaf-1 49 Plants
xp 3,422 XP
globe Marysville, MI
03/28/2021

Looots of sunlight! Loves the outdoors in the summer. (Northeast living)

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@DrDrey avatar
@@DrDrey
leaf-1 45 Plants
xp 2,456 XP
03/20/2021

There’s no plant more striking and beautiful to make a big statement if you only want to have a few plants to take care of but have a big impact on the vibe of your room.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
@Lalawilk365 avatar
@@Lalawilk365
leaf-1 9 Plants
xp 339 XP
globe McKinney, TX
03/13/2021

Very finicky and needs soooooo much direct sunlight (in front of a south facing window). I guess that would be indirect since the light is filtered through the window. Either way, I use a grow light with it. It loves lots of humidity so spray those leaves twice a week and use a pebble tray. This is how I’ve been able to keep it alive indoors.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@pinkluva avatar
@@pinkluva
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 392 XP
globe Vancouver, WA
03/10/2021

This plant loves sunlight! When I placed a grow light next to it all of a sudden a new leaf began to grow. I recently moved it to a larger pot so don’t expect it to bloom this year.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves

Trending in your area

Similar to Bird of Paradise

Discover rare plants

This plant is popular in