Bird of Paradise Tree
Strelitzia nicolai
House Trees Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
The White Bird of Paradise is a dramatic, tree-like indoor plant with enormous banana-shaped leaves that split naturally along the veins as they mature. In ideal conditions, it produces striking white and blue crane-like flowers resembling exotic birds in flight. A bold statement plant for bright, spacious rooms.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun to bright indirect (6+ hrs)
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Water
Every 1-2 weeks
💨
Humidity
Moderate to high (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
18-30°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining, rich potting mix with perlite and peat; slightly acidic to neutral pH 6.0-7.0
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Fertilizer
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) monthly during spring and summer growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South Africa — coastal regions of Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mozambique
- 📏 Max height
- 300-600 cm (6-12 m outdoors; 150-250 cm indoors)
- 📐 Spread
- 90-180 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Winter - Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Orange, Blue
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets; however, seeds can be mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of established clumps, or from fresh seeds (soak 24 hours before sowing, germination 4-8 weeks)
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets; however, seeds can be mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities
Common issues
- Leaf splitting (normal but exacerbated by wind/drafts), Brown leaf tips from dry air, Root rot from overwatering, Slow growth in low light, Spider mites in dry conditions
💡 Care tips
- Giant banana-like leaves create a tropical indoor statement,Needs very large pots as it can grow over 6 feet indoors,Splits in leaves are natural and not a sign of poor health,Feed monthly in spring and summer for the best growth
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 11 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
