Rush-leaved bird of paradise

Sun

Full sun for the best flowering; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Once established, allow the soil to dry between thorough waterings; keep much drier in cool winter conditions.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; avoid waterlogged clay. In containers, use a free-draining potting mix with added grit or perlite.

Height

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Orange flowers with blue tongues emerge from horizontal, beak-like sheaths, usually from late winter into spring, sometimes continuing into summer in warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Stiff, upright, grey-green, cylindrical leaf stalks form a dense clump. Mature plants have little or no flat leaf blade; seedlings initially produce broader leaves.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.7 ft (0.52 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.4 ft (0.74 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (0.96 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant in a sunny, warm position with excellent drainage and room for the clump to widen.
• Water deeply during establishment, then let the soil dry between waterings.
• Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Keep mulch away from the crown and do not leave containers standing in water.
• Move container plants under bright, frost-free cover before frost; established outdoor plants tolerate only brief, light frost.
• Repot only when necessary, as frequent root disturbance can delay flowering.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stalks and dead or damaged foliage at the base with clean secateurs. Do not shear the clump or shorten healthy green stalks.

Spring

Plant or repot as temperatures rise, keeping the crown at its previous soil level.

Spring

Apply a light dose of balanced fertiliser and resume more regular watering.

Summer

Water newly planted clumps deeply; let established plants dry between waterings.

Late summer

Remove spent flower stalks and check sheltered foliage for scale insects.

Autumn

Reduce watering as growth slows and move pots indoors before frost.

Winter

Keep overwintering plants bright, frost-free and relatively dry, watering just enough to prevent prolonged complete drying.

• Use a single mature clump as an architectural focal point beside a sunny entrance.
• Repeat clumps through a gravel garden with aloes and ornamental grasses for contrasting upright forms.
• Grow in a large, stable container on a sunny terrace where the orange-and-blue flowers can be seen closely.
• Plant against a plain wall to show off the fine, vertical foliage and its shadows.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Contemporary minimal, Modern Mediterranean, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape and South African fynbos.

Plant it with: Agapanthus, Society garlic, Red hot poker, Blue chalksticks, Coral aloe and Lomandra.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for birds in its native South African habitat. Elsewhere, visiting wildlife varies, and reliable seed production may require hand pollination.

• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and keep the crown above standing water.
• Scale insects and mealybugs, especially under cover: inspect regularly, wipe off small infestations and use a labelled insecticidal soap where appropriate.
• Few or no flowers: provide more direct sun and allow time for maturity; seedlings and recently divided plants may take several years to flower.
• Frost damage: move pots under cover before freezing weather; remove damaged growth only after the risk of further frost has passed.

Treat as potentially toxic if eaten, particularly the seeds. Bird-of-paradise plants are associated with gastrointestinal upset in cats, dogs and people, but information specific to Strelitzia juncea is limited. Toxicity to horses is not well established; keep it out of grazing areas and prevent pets and children from eating it.

• Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

  Has broad, paddle-shaped leaf blades on long stalks; mature Strelitzia juncea has cylindrical foliage with little or no blade. Their flowers are very similar.

• Giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)

  Develops tall, trunk-like stems, very large banana-like leaves and white-and-blue flowers rather than orange-and-blue flowers.

Strelitzia honours Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, while juncea means rush-like, referring to the narrow, upright foliage.

Propagation. Propagate from fresh seed in warmth; germination can be slow and uneven, and flowering takes several years. Divide large, established clumps in spring, retaining substantial roots and several growing points on each division; divisions recover slowly.

Accepted botanical name

Strelitzia juncea

Native range

Cape Provinces.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.