# Bird of Paradise (*Strelitzia reginae*)

The Bird of Paradise looks like a colorful bird in flight with its unique flowers. It's a favorite for brightening up gardens!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tropical gardens
- **Also known as:** Crane Flower, Paradise Flower

![Bird of Paradise](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424743/objects/4944.jpg)

## Appearance

The Bird of Paradise has striking, crane-like flowers that mimic a crested bird's head. Its vivid orange sepals and bright blue petals emerge from a boat-shaped spathe, creating a tropical and exotic appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Zingiberales
- **Family:** Strelitziaceae
- **Genus:** Strelitzia

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, it's a plant, not related to the actual Birds of Paradise birds!
- Its unique flower structure needs a bird's weight to open, releasing pollen!
- Some plants can live for over 50 years, blooming beautifully year after year!
- The plant's scientific name, Strelitzia, honors Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

## Special abilities

- **Bird Perch Platform:** Bird of Paradise has strong flower petals that form a sturdy perch, helping nectar-feeding birds balance while pollinating.
- **Tough Skin Seeds:** Bird of Paradise seeds have a bright orange aril that attracts birds to eat and disperse them far away.
- **Drought Endurance:** Bird of Paradise has thick, fleshy roots that store water, helping it survive dry periods in its natural habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 120-180 cm
- **Spread:** 60-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-15 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late winter to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Greater Double-collared Sunbird (*Nectarinia afra*) — Feeds on nectar, its feet aid pollen transfer.
- **Pollinates:** Lesser Double-collared Sunbird (*Cinnyris chalybeus*) — Drinks nectar, distributing pollen between flowers.
- **Eats:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — May feed on young leaves, causing minor damage.
- **Eats:** Two-spotted Spider Mite (*Tetranychus urticae*) — Sucks sap from leaves, causing discoloration.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bird of Paradise?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Bird of Paradise?

120-180 cm

### How wide does Bird of Paradise spread?

60-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Bird of Paradise?

10-15 cm

### When does Bird of Paradise bloom?

Late winter to summer

### Is Bird of Paradise edible?

No

### Is Bird of Paradise toxic?

Mild

### What is Bird of Paradise's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/val-rahmeh-menton-botanical-garden) — Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, FR · Park
- [Wando Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wando-arboretum) — KR · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Bird of Paradise: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bird-of-paradise)