In What Climates Can Birds-of-Paradise Be Grown?

Origins

• The bird-of-paradise grows wild in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, which includes the cities Bhisho, Port Elizabeth and East London. While the climate of the province is varied, birds-of-paradise are found in the milder and more humid areas in the southeast. Here, winters are mild and lack frost and the summers are warm to hot, but more humid and with more rain than other parts of the province and the country. Rainfall occurs across the entire year, not in isolated seasons followed by long droughts.

Winter Hardiness

• The primary limiting factor where the bird-of-paradise may successfully grow outdoors is winter temperature. Temperatures as low as 28 degrees F cause severe damage and dieback, while below 25 F kills plants. Since regrowth is slow after cold damage, plants look sickly and unattractive for as many as two years, according to Robert Riffle, author of "The Tropical Look." Although birds-of-paradise are grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9, they are best outdoors only in zones 10 and warmer. Zone 10 experiences average minimum temperatures in the 30 to 40 F range.

Climate Zones

• Birds-of-paradise will grow well in frost-free climates that receive their precipitation mainly in summer or only in winter, but irrigation in dry parts of the year keep the plants looking lush and green. "Sunset Magazine" created climate zones for use by Americans in the West when selecting plants for gardens. The highly variable elevations in the West makes use of the USDA hardiness zones more difficult to apply to any one location. Climate zones take into consideration temperatures, rainfall, soils and latitude. Grow bird-of-paradise outdoors in Sunset climate zones H1, H2, 22 through 25, the southern part of 26, and 27.

Microclimates

• You may grow bird-of-paradise in desert areas that are frost-free as long as irrigation is provided and some shading from the hottest sun occurs in the afternoon. Also, siting this plant in sheltered areas that are warmer in winter -- under awnings and the base of buildings or walls out of cold winds -- can prevent cold damage. If shielded from frost and light freezes, birds-of-paradise may be grown outdoors successfully in USDA zone 9 and Sunset climate zones 9, 12 through 21, the northern part of 26 and the warmest sections of 28.