White Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia nicolai

Family: Strelitziaceae

Large statement plant

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Toxic to pets

Hazardous parts

all parts: ingestion hazard, sap/foliage: contact irritant

Preparation

not applicable: this plant is not a food crop

Hazard type

GI irritation (abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), contact skin irritation

Hazard route

ingestion or skin contact

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

Ingestion may cause abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; contact with the plant causes skin irritation. NC State Extension lists this as toxic to humans as well as pets, a more complete hazard profile than is documented for the smaller S. reginae.

Patent / trademark

not applicable

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Strelitzia reginae (PlotAndPetal's separate, smaller entry) and the unrelated, separately-toxic Caesalpinia gilliesii: ASPCA's own Strelitzia reginae page explicitly warns against confusing true Strelitzia with Caesalpinia. To tell them apart: Size and flower color: this species is tree-sized with white and blue blooms; S. reginae is a smaller clumping perennial with orange and blue blooms. Caesalpinia gilliesii has yellow flowers with long red stamens.. All three share the 'Bird of Paradise' name but are different plants with different toxicity profiles: check size and flower color before assuming which one you have.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: The two sources used disagree: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says zones 9B through 11 and cold sensitive; NC State says 10a-11b.
Water needs: moderate water when the top soil layer feels dry; established plants become more drought-tolerant
Mature size: 20-30 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide in native habitat (smaller when grown as a container houseplant); woody stems up to 1.5 ft wide, leaves to 6.5 ft long.
Where it comes from: Botswana, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, along coastal dunes and forests in East Africa.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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