A big, clumping cousin of the florist’s bird of paradise, with banana-like leaves on tall stalks and white and blue flowers tucked among them. It gives a strong tropical, vertical look to sheltered courtyards and pool areas, but it grows far larger than most people expect.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It needs regular water through the warm season and prefers soil that is not highly alkaline. Exposed plants struggle when temperatures reach 110°F.
Pruning
Remove spent flower stalks and tattered or dead leaves at the base to keep the clump tidy. Large clumps can be divided every several years.
Wind and sun
The big leaves shred in wind and scorch in western sun. A courtyard, a north wall or the shelter of a building keeps it looking lush.
Cold
Freezes around 28°F damage the foliage. An overhang or a warm wall nearby offers protection.
How our designers use it
A tropical screen
In a protected courtyard it grows into a tall, green screen that softens walls and second-story views.
Sheltered pool settings
Our designers use it to give resort-style pools height and a tropical backdrop, placed where buildings or walls block the wind.
Large containers
In a big planter it stays more contained and can be placed exactly where shelter allows.
Good to know
Around the pool
Old leaves and spent flowers drop and need regular cleanup. Set it back from the edge so debris does not land in the water.
Size
Nursery plants look modest, but a mature clump can pass 15′. Give it room, or choose the smaller tropical bird of paradise for tight spaces.
