Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

A bold tropical with huge paddle-shaped leaves that brings instant architecture to a bright room. Indoors it's grown for that lush, banana-like foliage; given enough sun and maturity it can reward you with its famous orange-and-blue crane-head flowers.

Light

Bird of Paradise is a sun lover and the brightest spot in your home is the right one. Give it several hours of direct sun a day — an unobstructed south or west window is ideal — with bright indirect light as the minimum. Without strong light it grows slowly, leaves stay small and dull, and it will almost never bloom indoors. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each week so it grows evenly rather than leaning toward the glass. If you can move it outdoors to a sunny patio for summer, it will reward you with faster, sturdier growth, but acclimate it gradually so the leaves don't scorch.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top inch or two of soil has dried, letting it run from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. In bright warmth that's often weekly in spring and summer and every couple of weeks in winter — but always check the soil rather than counting days. Bird of Paradise likes consistent moisture more than many houseplants, yet it still resents soggy feet, and overwatering quickly rots the thick roots. Curling or yellowing lower leaves usually mean too much water; crispy brown edges and drooping point to too little.

Soil & potting

Plant in a rich but free-draining mix: a quality potting soil loosened with perlite or pumice and a little orchid bark to keep air around those fleshy roots. The aim is moisture-retentive without staying waterlogged. Always use a heavy, stable pot with drainage holes — a large, leaf-heavy plant in a tall pot can topple. Bird of Paradise actually flowers best when slightly root-bound, so repot only every 2–3 years when roots crowd the surface or burst the pot, moving up just one size in spring.

Humidity & temperature

Average household humidity suits it, though it grows lusher above 50% and dry winter air can brown the leaf edges — a pebble tray or small humidifier helps. Keep it between 65–80°F; growth slows below 60°F and the plant is damaged by frost, so it can't take a freeze. Protect it from cold drafts, air-conditioning blasts, and chilly windowpanes in winter. Outdoor plants only overwinter unprotected in USDA zones 10–12.

Fertilizing

This is a hungry plant. Feed every two weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half to full strength, easing off in fall and stopping in winter while growth pauses. Steady feeding during the growing season fuels the big leaves and supports eventual blooming on mature plants. Watch for brown leaf tips and white crust on the soil, which signal over-feeding — flush the pot with plain water and back off if you see them.

Pruning & maintenance

Bird of Paradise needs little pruning. Remove yellowed, browned, or fully spent leaves by cutting the stalk back to the base with clean, sharp snips, which keeps the plant tidy and channels energy into new growth. After flowering, trim the spent bloom stalk down low. Wipe the broad leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to clear dust so they can photosynthesize. The leaves naturally split along the veins in wind or handling — this is normal and not a sign of trouble.

Propagation

Stem cuttings don't work — propagate by division instead. In spring, lift a mature, clumping plant, rinse the root ball, and use a clean sharp knife to separate a section that has at least one fan of leaves and a good piece of healthy root. Pot each division into the same chunky mix, water it in, and keep it warm and bright. Expect a sulk for a few weeks while it re-establishes. It can also be grown from fresh seed, but that route is slow and may take years to flower.

Common problems

Brown leaf edges and tipsUsually dry air, inconsistent watering, or fertilizer build-up.→Not flowering indoorsAlmost always too little light, too young, or too large a pot.→

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Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — step watering back up, restart fortnightly feeding, and divide or repot now if the plant is bursting its pot.

Summer

Peak season. Keep it in the brightest light, water regularly as the top inch dries, feed every two weeks, and move it to a sunny patio if you can.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch out the time between waterings and taper off fertilizer.

Winter

Near-dormant. Water sparingly, skip feeding, keep it warm and bright, and protect it from cold glass, frost, and drafts.

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