White Bird of Paradise

White Bird of Paradise is a clumping tropical from the coastal dunes and forests of southern Africa, known botanically as Strelitzia nicolai and grown for its enormous banana-like leaves. Gray-green blades up to 6 feet long rise on thick stalks in a fan, and mature clumps open white flowers with a blue tongue set in a purple-black bract. Give it full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil. In the ground it reaches 20 to 30 feet tall and about 10 feet wide, with aggressive roots that belong well clear of paving, so patios call for a large container. Hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11 and cold sensitive where frost is common, it tolerates salt air and handles drought once established. Flowers can appear in any season, though plants often need five or six years to start. All parts can cause mild stomach upset if eaten.