It is easy to see why bird of paradise flowers got their name: their stunning orange and blue petals resemble the plumage of an exotic bird. Kremp Florist often features the tall and stately flowers in tropical flower arrangements that can transport the recipient to the island of their dreams. Not only is the bird of paradise a symbol of the tropics, but it also has ties to British royalty and has been featured in art and cultural symbols. Kremp Florist explains more about the birds of paradise that are just as fascinating to read about as they are to look at.
Birds of Paradise in the Wild
Birds of Paradise belong to the genus Strelitzia, which contains five varieties of these perennial flowering plants. The plant family is known as Strelitziaceae.
In the wild, you will recognize the bird of paradise plant by its large, oval shaped leaves that look like banana leaves. That’s no coincidence because the bird of paradise is related to the banana plant. The leaves form a fan shaped collar around a tall stem that will hold the bird of paradise flower. The leaves and stem have a dusty green hue and the stem turns sharply at the top to look like a bird’s beak. A grouping of three orange petals interspersed with three blue petals blooms from the top of the beak-like part of the stem.
One interesting fact about birds of paradise is that they are pollinated by sunbirds, rather than insects as many flowers are. The real birds land on the perch created by the flower’s head, and drink the nectar from the flower. Meanwhile, the birds’ feet become covered in pollen, which they then distribute to the next flower that they land on to take a drink. If not for these birds, birds of paradise would require hand pollination to reproduce.
Strelitzia’s Many Names
The flower named Strelitzia has many names and nicknames, depending on which part of the world you find yourself in. The genus was named by Sir Joseph Banks, who was an English botanist and director of the royal gardens in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He honored the queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, by naming this beautiful flower “strelitzia reginae.”
More commonly, however, the flower is known as the bird of paradise because of its striking resemblance to a real bird of paradise with colorful orange feathers. It is also known as the crane flower (yet another bird reference) in South Africa, where the bird of paradise is native.
An Artful Flower
Whatever you choose to call this flower, there is no doubt that people have always been attracted to this bloom. South Africans took pride in one of their native flowers by featuring the bird of paradise on the back of their 50 cent coin. In 1952 the bloom was also declared the official flower of Los Angeles. Hawaiians also hold this wildflower dear to their hearts. Georgia O’Keefe painted one of her most famous works, “White Bird of Paradise,” in the 1940s while she spent time in Hawaii. The striking and sculptural flower is a natural choice for many cultural symbols and artworks.
Fresh Bird of Paradise Flower Arrangements
Birds of paradise look just as beautiful in flower arrangements as they do in nature. Birds of paradise usually arrive at Kremp Florist with tightly closed blooms. Luckily, florists have a technique to carefully encourage the flower to open, showing off its bright orange and blue petals.
Birds of paradise are most commonly found in tropical flower arrangements, when they are paired with other flowers like protea, orchids, ginger, anthurium, and calla lilies. Tropical floral designs are often created in a container filled with floral foam so that florists can create precise and structural designs that showcase each bloom’s beauty. Birds of paradise generally soar high above other flowers atop their long stems. Just as they are accented by large and showy leaves in the wild, you will most likely find an interesting study of variegated tropical leaves complimenting your bird of paradise flower arrangement from Kremp Florist.
A flower arrangement containing birds of paradise will help you make a big impression for an anniversary gift or birthday gift. Some people also consider birds of paradise a good choice for a masculine flower arrangement because of their strong and clean lines. If you love birds of paradise, contact Kremp Florist to get your custom arrangement of these stunning flowers today.
