The White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), also called the Giant Bird of Paradise, is a towering, banana-like tropical that forms clumps of huge paddle leaves on tall gray trunks. It is the plant that gives South Florida yards that resort look — and it is far tougher than it appears.
Why Florida Customers Choose Us
White Bird of Paradise Breakdown
Appearance:
Enormous gray-green leaves 4–6 feet long arranged fan-like on thick, woody stems that form a multi-trunk clump.
Mature plants produce big white-and-blue bird-shaped flowers in dark boat-shaped bracts, mostly in the warm months.
Growth Rate:
Moderate to fast with regular water and feeding.
Size:
20–30 feet tall with clumps spreading 10–15 feet wide.
Available in 15-gallon and 25-gallon.
Sunlight Requirements:
Full sun to part shade.
Fullest growth and flowering in sun; leaves stay a little larger in light shade.
Water Needs:
Moderate.
Regular water while establishing and in dry spells; mature clumps are fairly drought tolerant.
Soil Preferences:
Rich, well-drained soil; amend sand with compost and mulch well.
Maintenance:
Low to medium.
Remove old leaves and spent stalks, and cut out extra trunks to keep the clump in bounds. Leaves shred in strong wind — plant with some shelter for the cleanest look.
Landscape Use:
Specimen, poolside and courtyard screens, tall privacy backdrops, entry accents, and large containers.
Give it room to spread.
Climate Tolerance:
USDA zones 9b–11.
Leaves are damaged below about 28°F but the plant recovers.
One White Bird of Paradise by the pool and the whole yard reads tropical — plant it where the leaves have room to fan out.
Florida Delivery Available
We have in-stock White Bird of Paradise ready to ship throughout Florida. Multiple sizes available with professional installation options. Order online or text/call 561-898-2028 for expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Plant & Care for White Bird of Paradise in Florida
Choose Sun + Spacing
Most Florida plants prefer full to partial sun. Check mature width and space accordingly so plants don’t crowd as they fill in.
Dig Wide, Not Deep
Dig a hole 2–3x wider than the container and slightly shallow. This encourages roots to spread outward into native soil.
Plant at Proper Height
Remove from the pot, loosen circling roots, and plant with the root ball level to slightly above grade.
Water to Establish
Water deeply right after planting. For the first 10–14 days, consistent moisture is critical—don’t let the root ball dry out.
Mulch + Light Maintenance
Apply 2–3 inches of mulch (keep off the stem). Once settled, light trimming encourages fuller growth.
Professional Installation Available: Not comfortable planting yourself? We offer expert installation services throughout Florida. Our team has 15+ years of experience ensuring your plants thrive. Call 561-898-2028 to add installation to your order.
What Florida Customers Say
Dino's Palms just completed a full landscape install at our property in Tequesta. They planted 10 Christmas palms, 9 Coconuts, Silver buttonwood trees, hundreds of clusia, and more small plants. I cannot speak highly enough about the quality and service.
After scouring the internet for reviews for Landscapers I came across Dino's Palms and sure glad I did! The owner's husband and wife came and were very helpful picking out everything we wanted! We made a deal on doing my entire property and they personally came with a crew to install in one day! The plants were healthy and beautiful and the price for everything was much cheaper than anyone else!
Bought three plants from this company, Dino and his wife are very helpful and pretty good delivery speed if you live in West Palm Beach (free delivery). The plants are healthy, vibrant, and very well established and much better than the product you find online or via Home Depot. You get more plant for the money and the deals are pretty good. Once you buy one plant, you'll be impressed and purchase more.
