With their tufted heads and unearthly pecker , all the different type of bird of paradise flower ( Strelitziaspp . ) are show-stopper in their own right .

Even when they ’re not blossom , the silky evergreen plant leafage is attractive and adds grain and interest year - round .

Since these plant originate in South Africa , they thrive in lovesome , humid regions and are popular in tropic and semitropical locating around the globe .

A horizontal image of orange, blue, and red Strelitzia reginae flowers growing in front of a green fence pictured in bright sunshine.

We link to marketer to serve you find relevant production . If you buy from one of our links , we may make a direction .

All species flourish inUSDA Hardiness Zones10 to 12 , and sometimes in parts of Zone 9 if you keep them ardent in the wintertime months .

you’re able to get them in colder zonesas indoor plant life , or as outdoor industrial plant in the summer , and indoors in the winter .

A vertical image of a garden scene with bright orange and blue Strelitzia reginae growing in a border on the side of a driveway. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

But there are some meaningful differences between bird of paradise plants that you should be cognizant of before choosing one ( or three ) to plant indoors or out .

In this guide , I ’ll cover everything you need to have sex so that you do n’t accidentally plant a 30 - foot flora inside your 1,500 square metrical unit home base .

Here ’s what you ’ll chance upon :

A vertical image of a garden scene with bright orange and blue Strelitzia reginae growing in a border on the side of a driveway. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Bird of Paradise Types

The FiveStrelitziaSpecies

This striking plant life is part of the Strelitziaceae category and there are five main coinage in theStrelitziagenus . Some make pure potted plants , like the relatively shortS. junceaandS. reginae .

Others , likeS. nicolai , are a massive , impactful piece of landscaping at well - known musical theme commons like Disneyland .

The five mintage are :

A vertical image of a large Strelitzia alba plant growing in the garden with large banana-like leaves and white flowers pictured in bright sunshine.

1.S. alba

S. albais one of three tree - likeStreliziaspecies , along withS. nicolaiandS. caudata .

These evergreen , herbaceous florescence perennials can grow to scandalous meridian in optimal conditions . recollect 30 feet or improbable !

Often call the white - flowered banana tree works thanks to its white flowers and banana - similar leaves , S. albablooms from July to December in the northerly hemisphere .

A close up horizontal image of the white flowers of Strelitzia alba growing in a greenhouse with plants in soft focus in the background.

These levy plants are found growing wild in coastal area of the western Cape region of South Africa and in Madagascar .

2.S. caudata

Also know as the “ deal baseless banana,”S. caudatagrows baseless in the mountains of southern Africa , from South Africa to Swaziland and up through Zimbabwe .

It has the flair of the traveler ’s palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis ) , a related species in the same folk , and the foliage style of a banana tree plant life .

S. caudatagrows up to 20 feet tall and sportswoman black - beaked , snowy - tufted flowers .

A close up vertical image of the leaves of Strelitzia caudata on a blue sky background.

3.S. juncea

S. juncea , also known as narrow-minded leaf bird of paradise , looks a mountain like the most rough-cut species , S. reginae , but its leaves are reed - like alternatively of banana tree - molded .

The orange and blue flowers are slightly small-scale than those ofS. reginae .

Reaching a fledged height of three to six foot magniloquent , this species makes a lovely deletion flower or edge in a tropic - mode garden .

A close up vertical image of Strelitzia juncea growing in the garden with narrow leaves pictured on a soft focus background.

to begin with thought to be a miscellany ofS. reginae , it was reclassified asS. junceain 1974 after genetic research conducted by Dr Hendrik Albertus van de Venter from the University of Pretoria in South Africa .

This species is also idealistic for indoor growing . If you set up them outside during the summertime and land them in when temperatures drop , you ’ll enjoy blooms during the affectionate season and pretty dark-green foliage to keep you party while it ’s frigid outside .

4.S. nicolai

LikeS. alba , S. nicolairesembles a banana plant and can grow up to 20 understructure tall . Which is still huge , but smaller thanS. alba .

Often call in the giant ashen bird of paradise , S. nicolaiplants gambol white flower with dark gloomy - gray “ beaks . ”

S. nicolaimakes an fantabulous outside landscape piece for anyone who subsist in Zones 10 - 12 . Use it as a border to create a natural fence between you and the road or you and a neighbour !

A close up horizontal image of a Strelitzia juncea plant growing in the garden in bright sunshine on a blue sky background.

5.S. reginae

Meet the most beautiful species of all , the orange - floweredS. reginae , which was a constant part of the landscape painting at the university I attended in southern California .

Since it grow to a much more doable mature summit of just five to six foot , it ’s easier to spot the orangish clusters of flowers onS. reginaethan it is to see the blooms on tall plants in the genus .

This specie blooms off and on all class long , but like its sister species , it can suffer if temperature drop below freeze .

A close up horizontal image of the white and blue flowers of Strelitzia nicolai growing indoors.

Prolific in strong , balmy Florida , it neverthelessrequires cold protectionin the northerly part of the commonwealth .

The same is true forStrelitziasgrown in cooler parts of California . This makes it an ideal houseplant during winter – or all year beat if you live on somewhere that ’s colder than Zone 9 .

Bring the Cheery Tropics Home

The most commonly maturate bird of paradise species around the world , whether for outdoor landscaping or indoor cheer , areS. alba , S. juncea , S. nicolai , andS. reginae .

S. caudatamainly grows in the state of nature , so if you ever see the stunning mint of southerly Africa , keep your center out for this one !

Now that you could recount the five eccentric apart , you could take the best varieties to found at menage , and do n’t forget to consult ourguide to growing bird of paradiseto ascertain more .

A close up horizontal image of Strelitzia nicolai with white flowers growing in the garden with a house in soft focus in the background.

And for moreinformation about fowl of paradise plants , check out these guides next :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more particular . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

About

A close up horizontal image of the bright orange flowers of Strelitzia reginae growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Laura Ojeda Melchor