Unlike tree roots that will eventually lift sidewalks, bird of paradise roots do not thicken as the plants age.īird of paradise plants were introduced to Europe in 1773 when Francis Masson, plant collector, brought specimens from the eastern Cape region of South Africa to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. They are commonly seen growing in traffic islands and in gardens in apartment complexes in California.Įven better is their tendency to stay put. These plants are low maintenance which makes them valuable for urban landscaping. They are delightful as cut flowers and are sold by the million for use in floral arrangements. The birds of paradise that grow so well in this region are an entirely different species in the legume family, Caesalpinia.īird of paradise flowers are so storied that they were a recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. If you live in the southwestern US, you may be familiar with other plants known by the same common name. The most common species grown in the US are S. Native to southern Africa, there are five species in the Strelizia genus. Mature, healthy plants can produce up to 36 flower spikes a year, which will last for weeks. The plants bloom off and on year round in suitable climates. Two of the blue petals join together to form a nectary – an organ that secretes nectar. Orange sepals and blue petals emerge from a modified leaf known as a bract. Named for its stunning flowers, the plant grows slowly in clumps as its underground stem divides, while the foliage grows in a fan-like pattern and resembles banana leaves.įlowers are produced in groups of one to three on long stalks.īird of paradise plants are also known as crane flowers, a more precise description of the shape of their blooms.
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