If you know the bird of paradise mainly as a florist’s flower, you’re probably thinking of the Strelitzia genus. These plants, indigenous to warm, humid areas of South Africa, can be grown as outdoor perennials in USDA cold hardiness zones 9–11 or as houseplants elsewhere. An entirely different genus, Caesalpinia, includes a number of broad-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs that also carry the common name “bird of paradise.” The shape of these plants and the appearance of their flowers is starkly different than Strelitzia species. They’e generally desert dwellers. Here are five different species from two disparate plant genera, each commonly known as “bird of paradise.”
Native Area: South AfricaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 10–12; often grown as a houseplantHeight: 40–48 inchesSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Native Area: South AfricaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11; often grown as a houseplantHeight: up to 20 feet; up to 7 feet as a houseplantSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Native Area: Arid regions of tropical AmericasUSDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11Height: 10–20 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern MexicoUSDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11Height: 10-15 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Argentina and UruguayUSDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11Height: 7–10 feetSun Exposure: Full sun but tolerates some shade
