Plant of the Month April 2025: Birds of Paradise (Strelitzia)

It’s springtime in New Jersey! The weather is starting to warm up, flowers are in full bloom, and the birds have returned to sing for us in the mornings. Speaking of birds, Fern & Fossil’s Plant of the Month for April 2025 is the beautiful Strelitzia, commonly referred to as the Bird of Paradise or Crane Flower plant. Strelitzia is a genus of 5 species native to South Africa and known for their unique flowers. The coloring of the flowers will vary between species/varients, but generally grow in horizontal clusters at the top of stems. Birds of Paradise plants usually have massive leaves that can grow anywhere between 1 - 6 ft tall and have a similar appearance to Banana Leaf plants. The largest species in the genus is Strelitzia nicolai, which can reach a height of 33 ft tall (at that point, it’s basically a tree)! When fully mature after 5 years, Strelitzia nicolai can bloom with divine blue and white flowers year round. Other variants of Bird of Paradise that also have blue and white flowers include Strelitzia caudata and Strelitzia alba, but these variants are not usually sold as houseplants. Only Strelitzia nicolai and Strelitzia reginae tend to be commercially sold as houseplants. Strelitzia reginae usually has blue and orange flowers, although some variants are blue and yellow. This vibrant blue/orange coloring is in part the reason for its common name sake, the bright colors paired with the unique shape of the flowers give the plant a similar appearance to the endangered tropical bird. Although native to South Africa, Strelitzia reginae is cultivated in Southern California and named the official Floral Emblem of the City of Los Angeles! Pretty cool, huh? The last species of Strelitzia is genetically nested within Strelitzia reginae and possibly a mutation that is speciating: Strelitzia juncea. This mutation might in fact be my favorite of the bunch. Strelitzia juncea is distinguished by purple and yellow flowers rather than blue + orange, blue + yellow, or blue + white.

Here at Fern & Fossil, our Birds of Paradise are of the Strelitzia reginae species because they are easier to accommodate indoors. These babies sitting in our street front window get plenty of light and sit at about 7 ft tall! This is the perfect addition for homes with tall ceilings looking for just the right statement piece. Another plus? They’re allergy friendly since they don’t produce any pollen! Just be careful if you’re a pet owner, as Strelitzia are mildly toxic to animals and can cause gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when ingested.

Birds of Paradise (Strelitzia) needs the following care:

Light ☀️ Full Sun

Water 💧 Only when soil is completely dry. Do not overwater

Grow 🌱 This is not a cold hardy plant. For best results avoid temperatures below 50 F.