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| COMMON NAME Orange Bird Of Paradise |
| BOTANICAL NAME Strelitzia reginae |
| HEIGHT 4′ to 6′ |
| WIDTH 5′ |
| MONOECIOUS |
| EVERGREEN |
| LIFESPAN 25 to 50 years |
| PERENNIAL |
| COLD TOLERANCE 25° F |
| SOIL TYPE Well drained |
| WATER REQUIREMENTS Water after planting in ground, and water every day for 2 weeks. Week 3 and week 4, water deeply twice a week. From week 5 forward water deeply at least once a week until it has been 3 months. Shouldn’t need to be watered thereafter, however it has best results with regular irrigation. Supplement with water during droughts and the hot, dry months to keep your plant lush and thriving. Reduce watering in the Winter when growth slows. |
| DROUGHT TOLERANCE High |
| SALT TOLERANCE High |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENTS Prefers full sun, tolerates part shade |
| FERTILIZING Sparingly use a general purpose, 10-10-10 once every 3 to 4 weeks from Spring to Summer for faster growth. Alternatively, use a slow-release fertilizer 3 times a year. Halt fertilizing from the Fall to Winter, then begin again in the Spring. Do not allow fertilizer to clump, be sure to disperse evenly. Clumped fertilizer can potentially burn roots, potentially harming or killing a plant. Avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves, flowers, stems and trunks. |
| FLOWER Orange, showy flower spikes |
| MONTH OF COLOR All Summer |
| FRUIT Brown capsule, 1.5″ to 3″. Inedible. |
| ALLERGENS, TOXICITY AND ANIMALS Toxic to animals. (Dogs, cats, horses, humans.) |
| COMMENTS This tough, tropical plant has beautiful bird-like flowers and attractive foliage. Pollinated by birds. For the warmer areas of Central Florida, needs little care. Takes 3 years or more from seedling to produce flowers. Blooms last for 1 to 2 weeks. In locations susceptible to cold damage, wrap a frost cloth over and around the tree and tie securely to protect the day before a freeze. Remove promptly once the freeze has subsided. Native to South Africa. |
| PRICE 30 gallon $175, 15 gallon $75, 7 gallon $45 |