Botanical atlas
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
This plant is kept in the atlas for identification and safety, not for use. Read the safety notes below before handling it, and keep it away from children, cats, and food.
Bird of paradise has never belonged to the apothecary shelf, its story is one of gardens, florists, and national pride rather than home remedies. The plant was carried out of South Africa's Eastern Cape to Kew Gardens in the 1770s and named strelitzia in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III, and reginae in tribute to her royal station. In its homeland it became the floral emblem of South Africa, appearing on stamps, currency, and at state occasions as a symbol of freedom and paradise. Growers and florists around the world have prized it ever since for its uncanny, bird-shaped blooms, which can last for weeks once cut and remain one of the most recognizable flowers in tropical floristry.
Safety.
Bird of Paradise is not for eating: the flowers, leaves, and especially seed pods can cause vomiting and stomach upset, and the plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, sometimes causing drowsiness or loss of coordination. The sap can also irritate skin or eyes, so keep pods and cut stems away from children and pets.
Our sister app HerbLens identifies bird of paradise from a photo and keeps its full botanical portrait: growing guide, harvest notes, and look-alike warnings.
View on HerbLensHerbSense shares traditional herbal knowledge for education, not diagnosis or treatment. Herbs can interact with medicines and conditions. Speak with your doctor before acting on anything here, and seek care promptly for anything severe, sudden, or worsening.