Bird of Paradise

This fabulous and flashy tropical plant brings a bit of pizazz into almost any household. The bird of paradise is a native of South Africa, where it grows as a perennial. It gets its name from the blooms that resemble a bird in flight, an origami crane, or the head of the crowned crane; hence, it’s another nickname, the crane flower. The leaves on the bird of paradise are paddle-shaped and should be cleaned periodically with a damp cloth to keep them dust-free. This tropical houseplant craves heat and grows best at temperatures over 50 degrees F. Bird of paradise can grow 4’ to 6’ tall and wide. A prolific bloomer, a healthy and mature plant may produce 30-plus blooms in a year; however, younger plants most likely won’t bloom for a few years. Outdoors, the bird of paradise requires full sun, and indoors, it needs as much light as possible. Let the soil dry out between waterings and provide as much humidity as possible. This plant likes to be crowded, so it’s ok to skip transplanting yearly and let the stems multiply so it’s full in the pot. Fertilize as you would any other tropical plant.

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu