How do you Winterize Bird of Paradise? (Care Guide) - Gardenisms (2024)

So, you need winterize your bird of paradise.

These gorgeous, summertime ornamental plants are widely popular among flowering gardens.

Their signature plumage resembles that of a tropical bird poking its head out of a dense, green foliage.

They exhibit this bloom all summer long into the fall and even early winter. But if you want to preserve this plant and have it come back after the winter, special precautions are to be taken.

Properly overwintering Strelitzia reginae is straightforward for those in warmer climates (zones 10+).

But for colder environments, there are some things you can do to keep it warm and healthy throughout the cold season.

So let’s dive right into it and talk about how to properly care for bird of paradise over the winter!

Quick care guide

Winterizing bird of paradise

The bird of paradise is a popular flowering ornamental plant that resides in the Strelitziaceae family.

Also known as the crane flower, this infamous plant gets its name from the bird-like petals that it forms (probably not one that you’ve seen in urban areas).

This plant is native to South Africa, but has been exported to countries with tolerant, warm weather, including the US.

Because of its warm origins, it prefers tropical weather which poses a problem for many gardeners here in the US.

This plant doesn’t do that hot in the cold and will need to be kept warm during the entire frost season if you want it to produce blooms again after the winter.

Thankfully, the process proves to be straightforward and not too hard.

Hardiness zones

Strelitzia reginae will thrive in hardiness zones 10, 11, and also 12, but those in lower zones (such as zones 8 and 9) will need to provide special care for their plant.

Trying to plant this beauty in zone 8 is pretty crazy and isn’t easy. It’ll require a lot of special care to provide this tropical plant the environment it needs.

This is a heat loving plant that needs sustainable temperatures to properly develop those gorgeous bird appendages and doesn’t tolerate cold temperatures well.

This can make it a challenge for those growing it in colder regions, which will require some intermission to overwinter properly.

Can they survive winter?

It depends. If you’re located in a colder area that reaches freezing temperatures during the cold winter nights, you’ll have to be extra careful to provide them some TLC during this time.

Colder regions that are constantly dipping below freezing will struggle to sustain these plants. Warmer regions zones 10 and above should have no problem enjoying their blooms year after year.

Birds of paradise are tropical plants by nature, so they need a warm environment to thrive. They can handle SOME cold but aren’t considered to be a cold-hardy plant.

They have thin leaves that give them the crane flower appearance and they can be damaged or wilted by the cold.

What happens if it gets too cold?

You’ll notice the leaves will become yellowish and “torn.”

This is the most obvious sign of cold damage to bird of paradise plants.

They’ll have a ragged appearance at the leaf edges and you’ll have to prune them off. You may also spot damage to the stems, which turn them brown or black. The plant will droop and become very lanky over time.

The trunk of the plant may become colored with spots or visible circles that feel soft to the touch.

Will they come back after a freeze?

This depends on how long the freeze lasts. Bird of paradise can handle a few hours of freezing temperatures, but nothing more than that.

You’ll start to see the wilting leaves, drooping stems, and soft spots form on the stalks. When this happens, your plant is in critical condition and you’ll need to move it indoors or insulate it- although this should’ve been done weeks ago.

If the plant succumbs to the frost, your plant may die in the cold. So this is why you need to get it ready for winter in the fall- NOT at the start of winter (early fall is preferable).

How much cold can it tolerate?

A bird of paradise can tolerate cold temperatures as low as 24F, and not for extended periods.

If your area regularly dips below 24F multiple times during the winter, you’ll have to be extra careful with this plant and provide it with some kind of warmth- whether it be taking the plant indoors or using some kind of insulation to keep it warm.

Remember that 24F is the LOWEST possible temperature you should let the plant tolerate.

Even temperatures in the low 30s will start to harm the leaves, buds, and stems. You should keep the temperatures above 40F if possible. Don’t play it risky, friend.

How to overwinter bird of paradise

Here are some methods you can utilize to overwinter bird of paradise during those chilly nights.

Depending on where you’re located, your local weather, and how you’re growing them (in the soil or a container), you can use whatever applies to your situation.

These are gorgeous plants that need special care if you plan to enjoy them again next year, so don’t hesitate to provide some sustenance to it even if costs you some time. It won’t be much for the yearlong blooms you’ll enjoy next spring!

Overwintering indoors in containers

There are five main species of this plant, but many lesser known variants.

If you have the smaller cultivar (S. reginae), you can get away with planting it inside a pot or container.

This is the smaller variant of the plant and the only one that’s suitable for container planting in my opinion.

You’ll still need a big pot to tackle this baby though, so make sure you get the biggest container you can fit in your garden. You’ll need at least 14” of width and depth for the younger plants and double or triple the size for established S. reginae.

Make sure it has adequate drainage holes on the bottom for such a large volume of soil and plant away.

Use a mixture of high-quality potting soil with a loamy texture that’s loose and well-draining. Add some perlite to the soil and mix them thoroughly.

Get your bird of paradise and place it in the pot and start filling it up with the mixture. Then water for the first time. Give it enough water to make sure it drains well and saturates the soil with moisture.

And there you have it!

A bird of paradise growing in a pot! Who’d have thought, eh?

Transplanting to a larger potting container

Keep in mind that when it grows, you’ll have to transplant the bird to a larger pot.

However, this makes it easy to winterize your plant for now.

You can transplant existing bird of paradise into containers for the winter, as long as the pot container provided is large enough. This works best with younger plants that are small.

You can grow smaller bird of paradise plants in containers first for the first few years, then transfer to a larger pot so you can continue overwintering every single year.

Or you can start in containers first and then transplant into the soil when it grows large enough.

Of course, you’ll have to take measures to winterize it in the cold season when your plant is sitting outside during the wintertime chill.

Place near a source of warmth (especially for zone 9)

Place the container near a sunny windowsill and keep the temperatures stable during the winter. Note that this will change the flower output it produces next season.

The best blooms come from the natural outdoors. But for those in colder zones, this isn’t always possible. Oh well. At least you still have your plant to enjoy!

Don’t forget to water your indoor bird of paradise. It still needs water during the winter, UNLESS temperatures drop below freezing (which shouldn’t inside your home?).

Don’t overwater. You don’t need as much as you do during the regular season. Just add water when the soil is dry. You don’t need to keep it most 24/7.

Allow it to dry out between waterings. 2-3 times per week should be enough. This is to protect your plant from rot or mold that stems from water (make sure the water drains well also).

Overwintering outdoors

Birds of paradise can winterize outdoors in the soil as well. That’s the preferred method because it produces the best blooms next season.

These large plants aren’t meant to be grown in containers, so if you live in a warmer climate (zones 10, 11, or 12), you should be happy that you can safely overwinter them without much effort.

As long as you can keep them above 34F throughout the winter, you should be OK.

But watch out for chilly nights and cold snaps where the temperature dips below the low 30s. It only takes a few hours of chill to damage these plants.

You may start to notice withering leaves, dropping foliage, or damaged buds one day later after a cold snap.

Bird of paradise aren’t cold-hardy nor tolerant of the cold when it gets below 30F. So be wary of that.

There are some things you can do to help keep the temperatures stable throughout the winter and protect your plant from the cold.

Stop fertilizing in the fall

When fall rolls around, stop applying fertilizer to your plants.

This only adds fuel for the plant to continue growing, which you don’t want during the winter.

Winterizing is all about putting the plant into a dormant state and conserving energy, rather than wasting it on failed blooms. The plant should be starved of fertilizer in the early fall, especially if you have a warm one.

More plant exposure from fertilizer will just make the plant more susceptible to damage in the cold.

Reduce watering

When the weather cools, don’t water as often as you normally do.

There’s no need to supply excess water that’ll just sit there and pool as the plant shouldn’t require as much water during overwintering.

Halting fertilizer combine with a watering reduction should help prime the bird of paradise. You only need to water about once a week for outdoor plants. Let the soil go dry between waterings.

Excess water may lead to root rot, especially if the soil doesn’t drain well.

Cut it back

Cutting back should be done to help protect the plant.

Use a sharp pair of pruners or shears and put on your safety gloves.

Gently cut the entire plant (that’s the stems, leaves, and flowers) down to just under 12” above soil level.

This will be pretty painful for those who’ve never done it before, but you’ll be glad you did next season when the paint comes back to life and gives you those bird-shaped flowers all season long.

Cutting back helps conserve energy that otherwise would be wasted during the overwintering process.

The stored energy can then be utilized by the plant to produce larger and more abundant flowers next year when it’s back in season.

Mulch the plant

Adding some high quality, organic mulch serves as a natural insulator for the remaining, exposed parts of the stems.

After you cut it back, the stem will still be susceptible to cold weather, and adding some insulating material like mulch provides ample protection.

Similar to plants like peonies, chrysanthemums, and hyacinths, a good, loose mulch can stabilize temperatures at the soil level.

Get some bark mulch and sprinkle it over the perimeter of the plant.

Do NOT add mulch to the trunk of the plant. This may induce plant rot.

The mulch should be evenly distributed around the entire plant. Put it over the rhizome, stem, and root system. This will help keep the temperatures stable during the cold nights.

The mulch doesn’t necessarily “shield” it from cold.

But rather, it helps the process of cold seeping into the soil slow down so that the temperatures remain relatively stable.

• During the day, the soil heats up.
• During the night, the heat dissipates slowly and keeps it warmer than without.

You can also use straw mulch as a substitute to bark mulch.

Use a layer of 3” organic mulch around the stem and root system.

But make sure you don’t have any touching the actual trunk of the plant (stem) or else you may introduce the possibility of plant rot.

Mulch can help protect against specific pests also. Use straw, pine, or bark chips for best results.

void using grass or compost to mulch because these are moisture absorbing and can contribute to root rot.

Remove mulch in the spring and summer so the plant can grow. Only mulch during the winter.

Add compost

Using rich, organic compost adds another layer of warmth to your plant.

This can add some nutrients to the soil and regulate heat in the root system. Compost also helps with drainage to keep moisture moving and prevent root rot.

Consider putting at least 6” of compost to help regulate nighttime temperatures.

Use leaves to regulate the warmth

You can add some natural leaves as a material to help keep a nice thick blanket over your bird of paradise.

Any leaves will do, just make sure that they’re not infested with rot or mold. That’s the last thing you want for your plant during the winter-to become molded.

The leaves can be placed over the mulch as a second layer.

Don’t worry about it blowing away during the wind chill.

A few leaves missing won’t do anything. Just replace when necessary.

Cover your plant with row covers

If you want a near surefire solution, you can use row covers to protect your bird of paradise for good.

There are dozens of different row cover designs and materials available, so I won’t go into detail for each one.

Look for material that’s breathable, but not too loose or fine so that the cold seeps in easily.

Get one with sturdy stakes and cover up your plant as directed. You can combine the row covers with mulch, leaves, and straw to help keep it warm.

This is a good solution for those with windy weather. The row covers will help keep the mulch and other insulating materials in place.

Or try burlap covers

Burlap covers can also be an awesome way to protect your bird of paradise from the harsh winter.

A single, large piece of burlap or burlap-like material can do the trick.

Tip: you don’t have to buy burlap specifically for PLANTS. You can buy any natural burlap and use it for a plant cover.

Use some stakes to hold it in place and make it nice and sturdy. Extend it to the soil and cover the entire 12” stem with it.

You don’t need to make it super tight to where your plant starts to struggle under the cover. There should extra space around the sides so it has wiggle room- literally.

Choose the right location

Planting your bird of paradise on a hillside that’s exposed or even an artificial microclimate that brings cold weather both can result in damage to your plant.

Choosing the right location can help minimize the risk of damage in the future, such as an area that’s sheltered or protected from cold winds.

Consider transplanting your plant or picking a place that’s safe if you’re already going through the hassle of shifting your plants around.

If you’re going from container to soil, then this is a good time to do an evaluation of your property and pick the right place to plant it.

Sheltered areas with sunlight would be ideal. Exposed areas offer zero protection to your plants during the winter. Choose a sunny area with protection from cold winds.

The shelter can be from exterior buildings, plants, or even the walls of your home. Be creative.

This may help prevent extreme temperatures during the wintertime and then make your job a lot less effortful.

Further reading

Here are some additional references you may find useful:

• Bird of paradise – Wikipedia
• Strelitzia reginae – Wikipedia

Now your plant’s ready for winter

You now have all the knowledge you need to winterize your plant safely so they come back with those gorgeous blooms next spring.

What do you think? Were you able to get them ready for the cold season without much difficulty? Let me know in the comments section!

If you found this page helpful or have any feedback/questions, please let me know.