Plant profile
Giant bird of paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
Also known as Giant white bird of paradise, Bird of paradise tree, Wild banana, Strelitzia nicolai.
Giant bird of paradise grows into a tall multi-trunked clump with huge paddle-shaped leaves and white-and-blue flowers. It makes a dramatic foliage plant where there is enough room for its mature size.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Mediterranean
- Lifecycle
- Evergreen tree-forming clumping perennial
- Light
- Full sun, Part shade
- Mature size
- Commonly 6–12 m tall, forming a broad multi-trunked clump several metres wide.
- Spacing
- Give several metres of clearance from structures, paths and neighbouring plants.
- Growth habit
- Tree-like monocot forming dense clumps of multiple trunks from the base.
- Native range
- Eastern Botswana and Zimbabwe through Mozambique to KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa
- Natural habitat
- Subtropical coastal forest, riverbanks and moist forest margins.
When to plant
Tropical and subtropical: plant during warm weather with reliable moisture. Warm temperate: spring after frost risk.
Planting
Give it a warm position with enough room for a very large clump. Keep it well away from narrow paths, gutters and small courtyards because mature stems and leaves need several metres of space.
Position and light
Full sun to part shade. More sun produces a denser, stronger outdoor clump; sheltered sites reduce wind shredding of the leaves.
Soil
Fertile, free-draining soil. It grows strongly where moisture and nutrients are available.
Watering
Water regularly while establishing. Mature outdoor clumps tolerate some dry weather but grow much faster with reliable moisture.
Feeding
Compost or a balanced fertiliser during active growth can support large established clumps, but heavy feeding is not essential.
Pruning
Remove trunks or suckers only when you need to reduce the clump. Cutting individual leaves does not control the long-term size. Old outer trunks can be cut near ground level to thin a crowded clump, but the plant will keep producing suckers from the base. Plan access before it becomes large; removing mature trunks from a tight corner is heavy work.
Propagation
Divide rooted suckers from an established clump, or grow plants from seed. Division gives you a larger plant sooner.
Common problems
Wind commonly shreds the leaves. Old clumps can also become very broad and heavy, so thin outer stems before access becomes difficult.
Safety notes
Fruit and seeds are not food and can cause gastrointestinal upset if eaten.
Worth knowing
This is the large white-flowered Strelitzia nicolai, not the smaller orange-and-blue Strelitzia reginae. Mature clumps can become substantial, so it works best where its height and wide leaves can be part of the design.
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