Zone 9-10

Looks like a palm, but the White Bird of Paradise is a tree related to Traveler's palm and all the bananas

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White Bird of Paradise grows with multiple trunks in a clumping style always expanding its diameter

Here's one stem that strayed away to grab a big open space of sunlight

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Typically rated at about 20 feet, we have seen them over 30 feet tall.  Keep size in mind as the clump in the photo is being grown indoors

The White Bird must be used carefully in the landscape because of its dense stems and expansionist tendencies. Offered for sale everywhere in South Florida, homeowners tend to buy small containers and plant them without thought to maintenance or invasion

Some are shade grown and can be used indoors in sunny locations with easy care

For best appearance and control outdoors, keep only 3, 5 or 7 stems then saw off additional baby stems off at ground level when they appear

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Plant away from the home. Does not make a good door tree because of the torn leaf appearance and the flowers look better viewed from a distance

The flower is mostly white, large and very tropical. It flowers in clusters on the stem

By the way, Strelitzia nicolai is named after named after the Russian emperor Nicholas I

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