5 Tips for Caring for the Mexican Bird of Paradise Plant

The name “Mexican bird of paradise” can refer to several different plants, ranging from large bushes to small trees, but a common characteristic are the small, brightly colored blooms that come in red, reddish-orange, or vivid yellow. Mexican bird of paradise species tend to be drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

The original bird of paradise plant does not have small blooms but instead looks similar to a brightly colored bird’s head; it belongs to the Strelitzia family of plants. In contrast, most plants termed Mexican bird of paradise are in the Caesalpinia genus, a member of the Fabaceae (or legume) family. Fabaceae plants are fern-like shrubs or trees that grow large seed pods on their branch tips, resulting in a spray of small, fiery-colored blossoms, the exact shade of which depends on the species.

Mexican bird of paradise, or simply bird of paradise, is a common name people use interchangeably with multiple species of plants, therefore the origins depend on the specific plant. Generally, these plants are tropical, as their name suggests, and prefer warm climates. While some hail from Caribbean countries like Barbados, others are native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas, including Mexico.

In the United States, there are Mexican bird of paradise shrubs and trees that thrive across much of the Southwest region, such as in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, growing as an evergreen year-round. While these plants grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or higher, they can typically tolerate chills in late winter by going dormant and re-emerging after the last frost in early spring the next year.

Mexican bird of paradise might refer to one of several similar plants. Here are some plants people commonly associate with the name “bird of paradise”:

1. 1. Bird of paradise: The classic-looking bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is native to South Africa. The plant’s flower looks almost like a peacock or other tropical bird’s head in vibrant shades of red, orange, and indigo.
2. 2. Mexican bird of paradise: Many different plants are known colloquially as bird of paradise or Mexican bird of paradise. One of these is Caesalpinia mexicana—also known as Erythrostemon mexicanus, Mexican caesalpinia, or Mexican holdback—which looks like a cross between a large shrub and a small tree and has brilliant yellow flowers. At a certain point in the growing season, the large seed pods on its branch tips pop and spray bird of paradise seeds all around their surroundings.
3. 3. Red bird of paradise: Other names for the red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) include peacock flower, dwarf poinciana, or pride of Barbados, as it is the national flower of the Caribbean island. It’s notable for its spray of bright red stamens and small, sunset-hued flowers.
4. 4. Yellow bird of paradise: Deriving its name from the bright yellow flowers it sprouts, the yellow bird of paradise is also called Caesalpinia gilliesii, Erythrostemon gilliesii, Poinciana gilliesii, or even the desert bird of paradise, due to how commonly it grows in arid, dry climates across Arizona and Texas.

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