Bird-of-paradise -tree (Strelitzia nicolai)

How much light does a Bird-of-paradise -tree need?

Outdoors, this tree prefers part shade, meaning direct sunlight for only part of the day, roughly 2 to 6 hours. Plan a spot that gets those hours of direct sun, with shade for the rest of the day. Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light. This page lists no other indoor light conditions for it.

• Light: Part shade¹

Best soil for a Bird-of-paradise -tree

Choose soil with good drainage for this tree. The soil can be well drained, moist or occasionally dry. Moist soil is on the list, and so is soil that is occasionally dry. Check your planting spot before you dig, and look for a place where the soil drains well. No soil pH range is documented for this plant. Without a pH figure, this page cannot give you a target for your soil.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist and occasionally dry¹

Hardiness and temperature

This tree is listed for USDA hardiness zones 10a through 11b. Check your local zone before you plant it outdoors. It will not tolerate temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C). Any spot where temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C) is outside what this plant tolerates. It also prefers high humidity. Humid air matches what it prefers. Zones 10a to 11b are the only zones listed for it.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 50 °F (10 °C)¹

Fertilizing a Bird-of-paradise -tree

A balanced liquid fertilizer may be used once a month during spring and summer. That monthly schedule applies to the growing season. The wording is that you may feed it, not that you must. This plant has a moderate growth rate. No feeding advice is documented for autumn or winter.

• Fertilizer: Monthly in the growing season (Mar–Aug)¹

How to plant a Bird-of-paradise -tree

Look up your USDA zone first. This tree is listed for zones 10a to 11b. Pick a spot with part shade, meaning 2 to 6 hours of direct sun. Leave room for a mature spread of 6–10 ft (1.83–3.05 m). Also check the space overhead for a height of 20–30 ft (6.1–9.14 m). Choose soil with good drainage.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹

Winter care

Protect this tree from temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C), which it will not tolerate. It is listed for zones 10a to 11b. Check whether winter in your area stays above 50 °F (10 °C). Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light. It also prefers high humidity. The listed feeding schedule covers spring and summer. No frost protection methods are documented on this page.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 50 °F (10 °C)¹

How to propagate a Bird-of-paradise -tree

The best method of propagation is by division or seeds. Division and seed are the two methods on record for this tree. Choose between seed and division when you want a new plant. Plan space for a mature spread of 6–10 ft (1.83–3.05 m) for any new plant you grow. No other propagation methods are documented here.

• Propagation: Seed and division¹

Common problems

Monitor for scale, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs. Four pest groups are named: scale, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs. Check your plant for these pests on a regular basis. No significant diseases are known for this plant. The record lists pests but no diseases.

• Common pests: scale, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs¹
• Common diseases: ¹

Questions and answers

Is the bird-of-paradise tree toxic to cats and dogs?

It is listed as toxic to cats and also toxic to dogs. Treat it as a hazard for both pets wherever you keep it. This page records no severity or toxic parts.

How much light does a bird-of-paradise tree need?

Outdoors, it prefers part shade, which means direct sun for only part of the day. Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light. No other light levels are documented here.

What is the lowest temperature this tree tolerates?

It will not tolerate temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C). Check your local winter lows against that figure. It is listed for USDA zones 10a to 11b. It also prefers high humidity.