Strelitzia Reginae
Strelitzia reginae
📖 About this plant
Known as the Bird of Paradise, this iconic plant produces some of the most recognizable flowers in the world — dramatic, crane-like blooms with brilliant orange and deep blue petals emerging from a boat-shaped green bract. The large, banana-like leaves create a lush tropical look even when not in flower. South Africa’s national flower and a symbol of tropical elegance worldwide.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to bright indirect (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
18-30°C
Rich, well-draining potting mix; loamy soil with added compost and perlite; slightly acidic to neutral
Balanced slow-release fertilizer every 2-3 months during spring through fall; supplement with liquid fertilizer monthly
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South Africa — Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal; subtropical coastal regions
- 📏 Max height
- 90-150 cm (indoors); 150-300+ cm (outdoors)
- 📐 Spread
- 90-150 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Winter - Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Orange, Blue
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — keep away from pets; ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset; flowers and foliage not seriously harmful
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of mature clumps (most reliable); seeds (slow — takes 4-8 weeks to germinate and years to flower)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — keep away from pets; ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset; flowers and foliage not seriously harmful
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering, Mealybugs on leaves, Scale insects, Failure to bloom from insufficient light
💡 Care tips
- Also known as Orange Bird of Paradise but distinct from Bird of Paradise,Produces iconic crane-shaped flowers with orange and blue petals,Needs at least 4 hours of direct sun to bloom,Feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer for best results
