Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Red Bird of Paradise
Red bird of paradise is a fast-growing shrub with big clusters of red, orange and yellow flowers from spring into fall. It loves full sun and takes the reflected heat off walls and paving. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers all season. Once rooted it gets by on a deep soak every week or two while it blooms.
Best for: hot west and south walls, hummingbird and butterfly beds, and a summer background or screen shrub.
It loves full sun and handles the reflected heat off west and south walls, driveways and paving. It keeps blooming through the warm months when a lot of other color has quit. Skip the north side of the house, where it gets leggy and flowers less.
Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees work the flower clusters from spring into fall. Trim off the spent flower stalks in August and it pushes another round of flowers for fall. Rabbits tend to leave it alone.
Grown as a background shrub or loose screen, it fills out fast each spring. Space plants about 5 to 6 feet apart for a full border. It drops its leaves in winter, so it screens best from late spring into fall.
In shade it gets leggy and flowers less. Below freezing the top dies back, and it regrows from the base in spring. The stems carry small sharp prickles and the seeds are poisonous, so keep it back from paths and play areas.
- Border or loose screen5-6 ft apart
- Single shrubs at full size12-20 ft apart
Water new plants often and taper over the first months. Once rooted, water every 1 to 2 weeks while it blooms, and about once a month in winter.
It drops its leaves and often freezes back in winter. In late winter, cut the stems to about 12 inches. It regrows fast and blooms on the new stems.
In August, trim off spent flower stalks for another round of fall flowers. Wear gloves and long sleeves, since the stems have small prickles.
It is in the pea family and rarely needs fertilizer. One light feeding in spring is plenty if you want to give it one.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does red bird of paradise get, and how fast?
It grows fast and can reach 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. Winter cold, water and the yearly cutback decide the size, and many are kept around 4 to 6 feet. Give it room, or plan on cutting it back each winter.
Why does my red bird of paradise look dead in winter?
Winter die-back is normal for this plant. The top drops its leaves and dies back once it freezes, and the leaves can turn reddish first. The roots handle cold to about 15°F, so leave it in place, cut it back in late winter, and it blooms again by summer.
When and how far should I cut it back?
Cut it down to about 12 inches in late winter. It comes back full and blooms on the new stems. A light trim of spent flower stalks in August helps push more fall flowers.
How often should I water it?
Water new plants regularly while they root in. Once rooted, a deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks while it blooms keeps flowers coming. In winter it rests, so about once a month is enough.
Does it need fertilizer?
Red bird of paradise rarely needs fertilizer. It is in the pea family and grows fine in plain desert soil that drains well. If you want to feed it, give one light feeding in spring and stop there.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall, right through the hottest months, with red and orange flowers, touches of yellow and long red stamens. For the most flowers, give it full sun and a deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks while it blooms.
Why isn't my red bird of paradise blooming?
The usual cause is shade. In part shade it gets leggy and flowers less, so give it full sun. Regular water in the warm months also keeps the bloom going.
Is red bird of paradise poisonous?
Yes. The seeds and pods are poisonous if eaten, and it is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It mostly causes stomach upset. Plant it away from play areas and dog runs, and cut off flower stalks before pods form.
Does it have thorns?
Yes. The stems carry small, sharp prickles. Wear gloves and long sleeves when you prune, and keep it back from walkways.
Is it messy?
Leaf litter is low, but the pods can make a mess. When ripe pods dry and split, they throw seeds a surprising distance and seedlings come up. Cut off spent flower stalks before pods form to stop most of that.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers from spring into fall. Plant it in full sun, and trim spent flower stalks in August to keep flowers coming into fall.
How is it different from Mexican and yellow bird of paradise?
Red has red and orange flowers, prickly stems, and dies back in a freeze. Mexican bird of paradise has solid yellow flowers, no thorns, grows 10 to 15 feet, and handles more cold. Desert bird of paradise, often called yellow bird of paradise, has yellow flowers with long red stamens. There is also a yellow form of this same plant sold as 'Phoenix'.
Will my HOA allow it?
It is commonly allowed and shows up on Valley community plant lists. Some lists limit where it can go, so lists vary. Confirm with your HOA before you plant.
Red Bird of Paradise for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Red bird of paradise is a summer color shrub planted all over the Valley. It blooms red, orange and yellow from spring into fall, takes full sun and hot walls, and grows fast. This page covers size, spacing, watering, the yearly cut back, and how it compares to Mexican bird of paradise.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does red bird of paradise get in Phoenix?
It can reach 6 to 10 feet tall and wide, and it grows fast. Winter cold and the yearly cut back keep many plants around 4 to 6 feet.
Why red bird of paradise looks dead in winter
The top drops its leaves and dies back once temperatures fall below freezing. The roots handle cold to about 15°F. It regrows from the base in spring and is full of flowers by summer.
When to cut back red bird of paradise
Cut it down to about 12 inches in late winter. It regrows fast and blooms on the new stems. Wear gloves and long sleeves for the prickles.
How often to water red bird of paradise in Arizona
Water new plants regularly while they root in. Once rooted, give a deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks while it blooms. In winter, about once a month is enough.
Red bird of paradise for reflected heat
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off west and south walls, driveways and paving. It blooms through the hottest months. In shade it gets leggy and flowers less, so skip the north side of the house.
Red bird vs Mexican bird of paradise
Red bird of paradise has red and orange flowers and prickly stems, and it dies back in a freeze. Mexican bird of paradise has solid yellow flowers, no thorns, and grows 10 to 15 feet. Many people in Arizona call the red one Mexican bird of paradise too.
Is red bird of paradise poisonous to pets?
The seeds and pods are poisonous if eaten, and it is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Plant it away from dog runs and play areas. Cutting off flower stalks after bloom keeps pods from forming.
How far apart to plant red bird of paradise
Space plants about 5 to 6 feet apart for a full border. Each plant can spread 6 to 10 feet across, so give a single plant that much room. The Spacing tab has the numbers.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.