Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise is a striking evergreen plant with blue-green foliage and showy orange and blue blooms that resemble a bird in flight. Its drought tolerance and pest resistance make it a favorite low-maintenance tropical plant.

The ideal planting location will have fertile, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. It should have partial shade with minimal salt (light spray is tolerated). Plants grown in part shade will grow taller and have larger flowers than those planted in full sun. If you are going for a dramatic landscape feature, space your plants about six feet apart to allow room for the flowers.

Plant bird of paradise in a groundcover or in front of a shrub border to highlight the blue tones in its foliage against the green shrubs. It is also ideal for planting next to pools and patios since it doesn’t tend to cause leaf litter.