Bird of Paradise Flower Interesting Facts

The Name

• Introduced to the Western world in 1773, bird-of- paradise's scientific name, Strelitzia reginae, originated as a tribute to the queen consort of King George III of England, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was an amateur botanist. "Reginae" translates to "of the queen" and "Strelitzia" denotes her surname. The plant's common name, bird-of-paradise, expresses the unmistakable bird-like resemblance of the flower in bloom. In its native region, the bird-of-paradise is referred to as a crane flower.

The Flower

• Resembling a bright orange bird in flight, the flower of a bird-of-paradise has three orange sepals and three deep blue petals. The long blue petal is the female portion of the plant and is situated far from the stamen. In the plant's native environment, sunbirds land on the blue petal. The bird's weight opens the sepals and the bird drinks the sweet nectar while its feet pick up the flower pollen to later pollinate neighboring bird-of-paradise flowers. A mature plant in frost-free landscapes will bloom on and off throughout the year, producing up to three dozen flowers.

The Seed

• Left to naturally mature, the bird-of-paradise flower will die off and produce a seed pod. As the seed pod dries it bursts open, exposing the seed. In nature, birds eat the seed, depositing it to start a new bird-of-paradise plant. It takes three to five years after a bird-of-paradise seed is planted to grow into a plant that produces flowers. Propagation can be done by division or by planting seeds, which are very hard and must be soaked overnight, then nicked with a sharp knife before planting.

The Plant

• Bird-of-paradise plant is easy care, drought tolerant and relatively pest and disease free. Though tropical, the plant can withstand temperatures as low as 24 degrees F, but buds and flowers may be damaged. Grown in rich, loamy soil in a full sun location, the plant will produce many small-sized flowers, while in partial shade it grows larger blooms. Bird-of-paradise can be grown in a pot and sheltered indoors in cooler temperatures.