---
title: "Bird of paradise: vase life, season, meaning & care | Floreboard flower guide"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-31
publisher: Floreboard
---

# Bird of paradise: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists

  ZANDER 5D
  ✂
  ⊔=
  ∠
  ⨂ 10–14 days
  ☠∧

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae, family Strelitziaceae) usually lasts 10–14 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: focal flower.

- **Botanical name:** Strelitzia reginae

- **Family:** Strelitziaceae

- **Accepted name:** Strelitzia reginae Banks [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:798194-1) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2763116) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/52X8D)

- **Role in a design:** Focal flower

- **Vase life:** 10–14 days

- **In season:** Year-round

- **Fragrance:** None

- **Colours:** [orange](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/orange/)

- **Meaning:** Freedom and joy

- **Type:** Cut flower

- **Pets:** Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten

## Cut flower commercial monograph

    🌿 Taxonomy & Origin

- **Official name:** Bird of paradise

- **Botanical name:** Strelitzia reginae

- **Family:** Strelitziaceae

- **Aliases:** None

- **Native origin:** Coastal and subtropical South Africa

    🌸 Morphology & Visuals

- **Growth habit:** Herbaceous perennial or biennial with sturdy, upright flowering stems.

- **Stem length:** 50–70 cm

- **Natural colours:** Orange

    ⏳ Phenology & Harvest

- **Natural bloom:** Natural flowering in spring and summer

- **Commercial supply:** Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production

- **Harvest stage:** Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).

    ✂️ Postharvest & Floristry

- **Vase life:** 10–14 days

- **Cold storage:** Sensitive to cold: keep above 12°C to prevent chilling injury and blackening.

- **Special care:** A tropical flower: keep above about 10 °C. When the first floret fades, the next ones can be eased out of the boat-shaped sheath by hand.

- **Application:** Serves primarily as Focal flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.

- **Market notes:** A tropical flower: keep above about 10 °C. When the first floret fades, the next ones can be eased out of the boat-shaped sheath by hand.

For florists

## Try Bird of paradise in a client design

We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers — Bird of paradise included — and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits.

Try it as a design — free

## Care and conditioning

- A tropical flower: keep above about 10 °C. When the first floret fades, the next ones can be eased out of the boat-shaped sheath by hand.
- Bird of paradise is mildly toxic to cats and dogs: remind clients with pets to keep it out of reach.

## Where it fits

| Use |   | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ! | Mildly toxic if eaten — advise keeping it out of reach. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | Long-lasting (about 10–14 days) — good for orders prepared ahead and weekly contract flowers. |

## Pairs well with

These are available at the same time as bird of paradise and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:

| Flower | Role | Vase life |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Statice](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/statice/) | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| [Craspedia (billy buttons)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/craspedia/) | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| [Dendrobium orchid](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/dendrobium/) | Line flower | 10–14 days |
| [Kangaroo paw](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/kangaroopaw/) | Line flower | 10–14 days |
| [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |

## Substitutes

When bird of paradise is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Heliconia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/heliconia/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | Light | mildly toxic |
| [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/) | 10–21 days | Year-round | Light | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| [Calla lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/calla/) | 7–10 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |

## FAQ

### How long does bird of paradise last in a vase?

Usually 10–14 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.

### When is bird of paradise in season?

It is available year-round.

### How do you keep bird of paradise fresh?

A tropical flower: keep above about 10 °C. When the first floret fades, the next ones can be eased out of the boat-shaped sheath by hand.

### What does bird of paradise symbolise?

Freedom and joy. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures.

### Is bird of paradise toxic to cats or dogs?

Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.

### What can I use instead of bird of paradise?

Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Heliconia, Carnation, Orchids (cut), Calla lily.

## Related guides

- [Cut flower care and conditioning guide](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/cut-flower-care/)
- [Pet-safe flowers for cats and dogs](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/pet-safe-flowers/)
- [Unscented and low-pollen flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/unscented-flowers/)
- [Cut flower vase life chart](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-vase-life/)
- [Longest-lasting cut flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/long-lasting-flowers/)
- [Flower meanings: the language of flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-meanings/)

## In season at the same time

[Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) · [Lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lily/) · [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) · [Gerbera daisy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gerbera/) · [Lisianthus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lisianthus/) · [Baby's breath](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gypsophila/) · [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/) · [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/)

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Reference values from common trade practice. Real results vary with variety, origin and conditioning. Pet toxicity follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants) · [About our data](https://floreboard.com/en/about/)