White Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
A large, evergreen perennial featuring striking, banana-like, glossy green leaves arranged in a fan-like pattern on upright woody stems.
- Light
- Bright indirect light to full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of bright light daily for optimal growth.
- Water
- Water deeply when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry. Reduce watering frequency during the cooler winter months. Avoid letting the pot sit in standing water to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Upright, clump-forming evergreen perennial growing up to 18 to 30 feet tall outdoors, but typically restricted to 5 to 8 feet when grown in containers indoors. Moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Place in a brightly lit indoor location with several hours of direct sunlight. Water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil become dry, ensuring excellent drainage. Feed monthly during the active growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright indirect light to full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of bright light daily for optimal growth.
Watering
Water deeply when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry. Reduce watering frequency during the cooler winter months. Avoid letting the pot sit in standing water to prevent root rot.
Soil
Rich, well-draining potting mix containing a blend of peat moss, perlite, and compost, with an ideal pH range between 6.0 and 6.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10 through 12. Cultivated indoors in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Upright, clump-forming evergreen perennial growing up to 18 to 30 feet tall outdoors, but typically restricted to 5 to 8 feet when grown in containers indoors. Moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Spring and summer, producing large, bird-like flowers featuring distinctive white sepals and dark blue-purple petals. Rarely flowers when grown indoors.
Propagation
Propagated primarily through division of established multi-stemmed clumps during the spring season, or occasionally grown from seeds.
Common pests & issues
Prone to spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs. Leaf splitting from strong winds is natural, but brown leaf tips can result from underwatering or low humidity.
Similar species
Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise), which is smaller and features orange and blue flowers, and Musa species (Banana plants), which have softer, non-woody pseudostems.