The bird of paradise plant is decorative, but should be kept out of reach from children and pets.

The bird of paradise plant is native to South Africa, but serves many North American households as a decorative exotic plant.

Though it is one of many poisonous houseplants, and therefore needs to be kept out of reach of any curious pets or children, the bird of paradise is widely loved for its brilliant colors and intriguing shapes.

The name of the plant itself comes from the design of the flowers of the plant. These flowers come in bright colors of blue, yellow, and orange.

Many believe the design of this part of the plant resembles a bird in flight, and the bright colors call forth images of tropic wonderlands.

Along with the bright flowery part of the plant, it also consists of leaves and pedicels. The pedicels, also called scapes, are the long structures that the flower sits on.

These pedicels can grow up to five feet or more in height, though most birds of paradise plants only reach around four feet in height.

There are two main types of leaves on the bird of paradise plant. Traditional leaves are green and large in size, typically six inches wide and around eighteen inches in length.

There are additional leaves on the top of the plant, however. Like the flower itself, these leaves of the bird of paradise plant come in bright shades of green, red, and purple. As you can probably imagine from that description, the leaves are significantly modified from typical plant leaves.

These modified leaves are called bracts, and are around four to eight inches in length. Atop each bract sits the flower of the plant: the bright orange and yellow petals surrounded by a long blue tongue. Together, the bracts, petals, and tongue help to give the illusion of a bird in flight, thereby giving the plant its name.

Because it is an exotic plant, the bird of paradise plant can be extremely difficult to cultivate. For those who are willing to put the effort forth, however, it can be an extremely rewarding endeavor.

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Growing the bird of paradise plant--what everyone should know

They can't be blamed for wanting one, of course. With its bright flowers, four-foot height, and South African origins, the plant is certainly a impressive addition to any plant collection.

But once they get the plant home, they may be in for some unpleasant surprises if they have not adequately done their homework. A bird of paradise plant, like any other exotic plant, has special needs that must be taken into consideration if it is going to grow effectively.

The first consideration is where to grow the plant. This sounds like a no-brainer to many long time gardeners, but exotic plants require a little extra care when it comes to planting than other plants might.

Though the paradise is a steadier plant than most other exotics, its African origins mean that while it can enjoy a good drought and loves the heat, it will not tolerate a frost.

If you are growing it outdoors, that means that you need to plant it late enough that it will miss the last frost of the year. Additionally, if you want it to thrive, you will need to winterize the plant, bringing it indoors to a warm and dry place during the colder months of the year. Fortunately, this plant is hardier than most when it comes to moving and is unlikely to experience shock.

The bird of paradise is also a plant that you must take care and not overwater. Giving too much water to a bird of paradise will cause root rot, one of the few diseases that this otherwise hardy plant is susceptible to.

A third consideration is that you must take great care to prune the bird of paradise. If you allow the plant to grow unchecked, it can easily take over the garden in no time, crowding out your other plants.

It makes a great plant for any outdoor garden, as well as a gorgeous showpiece for the houseplant collector. Make sure to keep your bird of paradise plant warm, dry, and do not over water her, and you will find growing easier than the exotic label would otherwise lead you to believe.

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