Print Article for : Bird Of Paradise Flower

Your Online Guide » Gardening Guide » Tips on Gardening

[B685]Bird Of Paradise Flower

by Bobbie Mckee, Bob

The Bird of Paradise, native to South Africa, is a large tropical herb that was classified as a member of the banana family - or Musaceae, probably because of the shape of its leaves, which resembles that of banana leaves. At present, its scientific name is Strelitzia reginae. It is also ranked in the division of Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, and order Zingeberales. Obviously, the name Bird of Paradise simply comes from its spectacular blossoms that look like birds if being watched from afar.

The Bird of Paradise flowers are breath-taking blossoms where long stemmed flowers come out from green boat-shaped bracts that are bordered in red or purple. Actually, you find many sets of flowers in foliage, which gather on the end of a stalk. They have extraordinary combination of distinctive shape and dazzling colors that perfectly suit their name. The many pointed petals of radiant orange are contrasted with an arrow-shaped tongue of striking blue. There are also species of Bird of Paradise flower that have white and blue shades. This plant normally begins to blossom in succession over a period of time in the winter and spring.

If you want to plant and enjoy your own Bird of Paradise flowers from seed, it may take you five to seven years, but the waiting period is worth once the plant starts to bloom. If this information does not discourage you and won't stop you from having your own Bird of Paradise, then you might as well know how to care for them. In order to have an ideal result, you should know the following tips.

Bird of Paradise should get a good amount of sun light; however it needs protection below 30 degrees, the fact that it's a tropical plant.

It should be fertilized with appropriate fertilizer and make sure not to over-fertilize. Simply follow the directions and give only enough as directed. Remember, too much of anything doesn't do any good, whether to people, animals or plants.

Bird of Paradise responds well to trimming, you may want to try doing it. Do not over-water the plant. It is best that the roots can dry out fairly in between watering.

The boat leaves are bordered in a red or purple color that provides a remarkable difference to the rich green shade. The bird of paradise flower boasts many pointed petals that glow a brilliant orange color. Within the center of the orange flower is an arrow shaped point that compares the orange hue with a striking blue tone.

The bird of paradise flower has several sets of blossoms like this making the plant a true wonder to the eyes. The plant grows to a magnificent five feet in height and it can spread as wide as three feet in diameter. One bird of paradise flower plant produces many blossoms each year.

The blossoms come out in succession over the course of time. In warmer climates, the bird of paradise flower blooms in the winter and spring. This plant is often grown in greenhouses in colder regions. The greenhouse grown plants can produce blossoms all year long in the right conditions.

The bird of paradise flower is definitely a tropical plant. It requires protection from the elements if the temperature falls below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. This beautiful plant does succeed quite well in greenhouses but it really requires tropical temperatures to reach its full potential in natural conditions.

Feeding the bird of paradise flower is not the easiest task. The plant requires quite a bit of attention and care. It should be fertilized with a quality liquid plant food. In addition to the liquid food, the bird of paradise flower also needs several applications of blood meal and bone meal during the summer months.

This plant is also sensitive to water. Watering the bird of paradise flower too much will make the plant ill. The best conditions for the plant allow its roots to dry out a little bit between watering cycles.

The bird of paradise flower does respond very well to cut back and it is a very soft organism. This beautiful blossom does require a lot of patience especially if you are growing it from seed. It can take three years for the bird of paradise flower to reach its full potential. Some suggest that it takes five to seven years.

Article Source : Vegetable Gardening For Dummies

About Author

Both Bobbie Mckee & Linda E. Joy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Bobbie Mckee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, About Web Hosting and Credit Cards. FloralPatch.com specializes in of fresh flowers, bouquets, floral arrangements, and gifts.. Bobbie Mckee's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Linda E. Joy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy Problems, Alcohol Treatment and Home Management. Linda E. Joy provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for ,. Linda E. Joy's top article generates over 9140000 views. to your Favourites.