Bird of Paradise

Description:

The flowers emerge from stiff, greenish to reddish purple, beak-like spathes on long, stout stalks above the foliage. Each spathe contains multiple flowers. The individual flowers have 3 large, lanceolate, orange or yellow sepals and 3 smaller, blue petals that are fused into an arrowhead with a nectary at the base. The flowers are sometimes followed by woody seed capsules containing numerous seeds. The leaves emerge from underground rhizomes and have stout sheaths and leathery, glaucous green, oblong to lance-shaped blades. The plants form large, dense, mounded clumps.

Habitat:

Hale Koa grounds

Notes:

Cultivated. This ornamental garden plant and cut flower is native to South Africa.