Bird of Paradise

Aptly named for its resemblance to the plumage of an exotic bird, the Bird Of Paradise (also known as Strelitzia or Crane Flower) is one of the most popular ornamental flowers in the world.

Native to South Africa, Europe got its first glimpse of the plant in 1773 at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England. It has since been chosen as the official flower of Los Angeles and been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Known for its vibrant blue and orange petals, the flower is actually closely related to the banana, which you can see in its leathery leaves. This beautiful evergreen, with its durable stem and flower, makes the perfect rest stop for passing birds in winter.

While those colourful petals may set off alarm bells for allergy and hayfever sufferers out there, like other hayfever friendly flowers, The Bird Of Paradise doesn’t actually release any airborne pollen.

Add to that the fact that it’s also really easy to care for (no pruning!) and its relatively small size (of about 1.5 - 3 metres) and you’ve got yourself a versatile and eye-catching plant perfect for any household!

Love this stunning flower? Birds of Paradise feature in some of the beautiful arrangements in our Tropical Flowers Collection.