Landscape Ideas With Birds of Paradise

Monochromatic Ideas

• Monochromatic landscaping schemes use the same color throughout the planting, but in different strengths. Other yellow bloomers include the yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana), an 8-foot-tall evergreen that produces yellow flowers through much of the growing season and thrives in dry, sunny sites. Yellow bells (Tecoma stans angustata) grows from 4- to 10-feet tall and has lustrous foliage. It blooms from spring through late-fall with clusters of bright-yellow blooms. The yellow orchid vine (Mascagnia macroptera) grows well in hot, dry landscapes. It blooms with yellow spring flowers and climbs with support. For low-growing color, plant desert marigolds (Baileya multiradiata), a drought-tolerant ground cover that blooms from spring through summer with yellow flowers.

Analogous Ideas

• For a more dramatic landscape, choose analogous colors or those next to each other on the color wheel. Green and orange are analogous to yellow. The littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) grows to 8 feet tall and produces clusters of long-lasting orange fruits. This deciduous shrub attracts wildlife and thrives in sun or partial shade. The Crimson Jewel bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) produces orange flower bracts in spring and fall and has lustrous green foliage. It grows as a low or climbing shrub. Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis), a drought- and heat-tolerant evergreen vine, blooms with clusters of orange, hummingbird-attracting flowers through winter and has glossy, dark-green foliage.

Complementary Ideas

• Complementary landscaping schemes use colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Bird of paradise's yellow is complemented by shades of purple. Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Cupreum') grows well in sunny sites and has narrow, arching, purple-green foliage that reaches 4 feet tall. Goodding verbena (Verbena gooddingii), a ground cover, blooms with light-purple flowers in spring and summer and spreads to 3 feet. It grows well in full sun and survives on natural rainfall. The low, spreading butterfly bush (Ageratum corymbosum) produces clusters of purple blooms through the growing season.

Polychromatic Ideas

• Polychromatic landscapes incorporate a mixture of multiple colors for a vibrant, natural look. Bush lantana (Lantana camara), a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub, produces multicolored flowers in shades of yellow, red, orange and blue. It blooms from spring through fall and grows to 4 feet tall. Blue chihuahuan sage (Salvia chamaedryoides), an evergreen ground cover, grows to 2 feet wide and tall. It blooms with spikes of bright blue flowers in spring and summer and grows best in sunny sites that offer protection from afternoon heat. African daisies (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca) bloom with white, yellow and orange flowers starting in early spring. These annuals grow to 18 inches tall and prefer full sun and weekly irrigation.