Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
Toxic to cats and dogs
Bright light and steady warmth. Let the top few centimetres dry between waterings; splitting leaves are normal and not a problem.
Toxicity
Toxic Usually mild
Signs, in the ASPCA's words
Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness; caused mainly by fruit and seeds
Toxic Usually mild
Signs, in the ASPCA's words
Mild nausea, vomiting, drowsiness; caused mainly by fruit and seeds
Source — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, toxic and non-toxic plant list; read from this species' own page
Pet-safety information is a general guide from the ASPCA's toxic-plant database and covers cats and dogs only. "If eaten" summarises the symptoms ASPCA lists for that plant; how an animal actually reacts depends on how much it ate and on the animal. It isn't exhaustive, isn't veterinary advice, and individual animals vary — never rely on it as the sole basis for a decision about your pet. If you think your pet has eaten a harmful plant, contact a vet immediately.
Care
- WaterEvery 7–10 days
- LightBright, indirect
- HumidityAverage humidity
- Temperature15–27 °C
The same interval the Sabz app schedules reminders from. In autumn and winter the app stretches it; see houseplants in autumn.
Common problems
Bird of paradise brown leaf edges
Brown edges on the big leaves are dry air or compost that has dried out fully. It drinks a lot in summer — every seven to ten days, thoroughly — and wants humidity around it in a heated room. Keep it away from radiators and trim the edges for looks.
Bird of paradise leaves splitting
Leaves tearing along the veins into strips is not damage and not a fault: in the wild the leaves split in the wind, and indoors they do it in bright light and moving air. Leave them. A plant that never splits is usually in less light than it would like.
Bird of paradise not flowering
Indoors it flowers rarely, and only when it is mature — several years old, in a large pot — and gets bright light with some direct sun. Most never do, and a plant grown for its leaves is not failing. If flowers matter, give it the sunniest spot you have, keep it slightly pot-bound, and feed through summer.
Similar plants
- Air Plant safeTillandsia
- Fiddle Leaf Fig toxicFicus lyrata
- Money Tree safePachira aquatica
- Norfolk Island Pine safeAraucaria heterophylla
In the app
Add a bird of paradise to Sabz and the watering interval above becomes a reminder, the toxicity verdict sits on the plant's own page, and when a leaf turns, the Check-up reads what you have actually logged to say why.
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