Giant Bird of Paradise (Jumbo Specimen) / Giant Bird of Paradise – Desert Horizon Nursery

Giant Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia nicolai
Categories:
Tropicals  ·  
Tropicals
Light
Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)
Water
Moderate to high water needs in Phoenix. Water deeply when the top 2–3 inches of soil dry; increase frequency during extreme heat and reduce in winter. Avoid waterlogged soil.
Size
20-30 ft tall × 10-15 ft wide
Habit
Perennial clump – tree-like
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Description
Large, tropical, banana-like plant with broad leaves, upright trunks, and dramatic white bird-shaped flowers; best in sheltered Phoenix microclimates.
Bloom Time
Spring to summer (mature plants only)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Perennial clump – tree-like
Mature Size
20-30 ft tall × 10-15 ft wide
Flower Color
White and dark blue
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Hedge / Screen, Specimen / Accent, Trellis / Arbor / Wall, Tropical Garden
Garden Style
Hedge / Formal, Tropical
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Clivia, Liriope, Philodendron 'Xanadu'
Toxic — Pets & Humans
Toxic to pets & humans if ingested (esp. seeds)
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade or bright filtered light; avoid intense western exposure and reflected desert heat.

Water: Moderate to high water needs in Phoenix. Water deeply when the top 2–3 inches of soil dry; increase frequency during extreme heat and reduce in winter. Avoid waterlogged soil.

Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost; tolerates mildly alkaline soil but may develop nutrient deficiencies in highly alkaline conditions.

Mature size: Typically 20–30 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide in favorable conditions; often smaller in Phoenix because of frost, heat stress, or container growing.

Bloom: Mature outdoor plants may bloom in spring and summer, occasionally at other times in warm conditions. Young, container-grown, or frost-damaged plants may not flower.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; foliage can be damaged or killed by freezing temperatures.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, regular irrigation, and adequate nutrition; slower during cool weather or environmental stress.