In terms of houseplants, the Bird of Paradise is an absolute Queen. Its quirky, stunning blooms are akin to a brightly colored tropical bird in full flight. Its scientific name (Strelitzia reginae) honors Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and wife of King George III in the late 1700s. This tropical beauty is relatively easy to grow and, with the proper care, can grow to over six feet tall!
How to Take Care of Birds of Paradise Outside
Bird of paradise is a clump-forming, evergreen plant. A mature clump can be 5 feet (1. 5 m. ) tall and wide. The waxy, gray-green leaves get some 18 inches (45. 5 cm. ) long and resemble banana leaves. The vividly colored flowers, each with three bright orange bracts and three indigo petals, are of special interest to gardeners. The common name of the plant comes from these flowers. Try cultivating bird of paradise outdoors in full sun if you want shorter stems and lots of flowers on your plants. Those grown in shade have bigger blossoms but taller stalks. The plant produces flowers all year long in tropical climates. Most flowers grow on outer sections of the clumps. Plant your outdoor bird of paradise plants about 6 feet (2 meters) apart to provide ample flowering room. ) apart. The ideal soil for growing bird of paradise is one that is rich in organic matter and has good drainage. For the entire summer, outdoor bird of paradise plants require enough water, but less during the winter.
Bird of Paradise Growing Zone
It is only feasible to grow bird of paradise outdoors if you reside in USDA zones 9 through 12. In these zones, the plant is a beautiful addition to the backyard garden and can serve as the main feature of a floral planting. The plant may live in colder climates, but developing flower buds may suffer harm. You can divide outdoor bird of paradise plants in these growing zones. Dig up the clump in the spring and divide the root into sections with a single stalk if it has five or more stalks. Every one needs to be planted again at the same depth as the initial cluster.
Caring for Your Bird of Paradise Plant Outdoors
Here in South Florida, we are fortunate enough to be able to grow Bird of Paradise outdoors, though it is only hardy in Zones 9 through 11. Its waxy, banana-shaped leaves reach a maximum length of about eighteen inches, and its exquisitely beautiful blooms feature three mandarin orange bracts and three indigo petals. They grow quite large, so if you plan to plant Bird of Paradise in a group, make sure to space them about 6 feet apart. They prefer full sun to light shade!
For the first six months that a Bird of Paradise plant is in your garden, it requires regular watering; after that, you can reduce how often you water it. A well-established Bird of Paradise should be watered as soon as the top inch of soil dries out, even though they dislike wet feet.
Because these plants grow quickly and are heavy feeders, it is best to fertilize them on a regular schedule during the growing season. But during their wintertime dormancy, they don’t require fertilizer.
FAQ
Is a Bird of Paradise an indoor or outdoor plant?
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