Bird of paradise
The bird of paradise is instantly recognisable — an orange-and-blue bird-shaped inflorescence that has become the visual shorthand for tropical floristry. One stem carries multiple 'birds' that emerge in sequence over 2-3 weeks, giving unusually long display value. The signature flower of Hawaiian and California modernist arrangements.
| Family | Strelitziaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Africa; commercially grown California, Hawaii, Colombia |
| Peak season | all year |
| Availability | all year |
| Stem length | 70–130 cm |
| Vase life | 14–28 days |
| Colors | orange, white, blue |
| Price tier | mid |
Cut on a diagonal, deep water. Woody stem — split base 2 cm for uptake.
- •Instantly recognisable orange-and-blue bird-shaped inflorescence
- •Multiple 'birds' emerge from one bract over 2-3 weeks
- •Long vase life — one of the most durable exotics
- •Toxic if ingested
2 named bird of paradise cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Common name
- Bird-Of-Paradise
- Also known as
- strelitzia, crane flower, Strelitzia regalis, Strelitzia reginae latifolia
- Distribution
- South Africa
- Cold storage
- 6–7 °C
- Ethylene sensitivity
- low
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY), USDA Agriculture Handbook 66 (public domain)
Frequently asked questions
When is Bird of paradise in season?
Bird of paradise peaks in all year, and florists can usually source it all year. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Bird of paradise last in a vase?
Expect 14–28 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Bird of paradise?
Good substitutes for Bird of paradise include Heliconia, Anthurium. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Bird of paradise symbolise?
Bird of paradise is associated with magnificence, freedom, paradise.
How do you care for cut Bird of paradise?
Instantly recognisable orange-and-blue bird-shaped inflorescence
Related flowers
Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link back, for non-commercial and editorial use (blogs, journalism, classrooms, research).
Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Bird of paradise”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/strelitzia/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/strelitzia/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Bird of paradise</a>