Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called narrow-leaf bird of paradise, rush-leaved bird of paradise, narrow-leaved strelitzia (Strelitzia juncea).
More about narrow-leaf bird of paradise
About Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia juncea · also called narrow-leaf bird of paradise, rush-leaved bird of paradise · flowering
Strelitzia juncea is a striking, trunkless clump-forming evergreen perennial in the Strelitziaceae family, endemic to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it grows in hot, dry rocky fynbos and bushveld in full sun. Unlike its relatives, it bears no leaf blades — instead, its upright, rush-like cylindrical stalks (bluish-green, to 1.5 m) give it a sculptural, grass-like silhouette; it produces the same orange-and-blue bird-of-paradise flowers as Strelitzia reginae. It is notably more drought-tolerant than other Strelitzia species, making it the most forgiving in cultivation; the most important care point is full sun and excellent drainage. As a Strelitzia, it shares the ASPCA toxic classification for the genus.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Failure to flower: Insufficient direct sunlight is the leading cause of non-flowering; the plant must receive at least six hours of direct sun and must be mature (usually three to five years old) before it blooms reliably.
The reasons narrow-leaf bird of paradise isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming narrow-leaf bird of paradise traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding narrow-leaf bird of paradise a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get narrow-leaf bird of paradise to flower
- Maximise sun. Give narrow-leaf bird of paradise the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for narrow-leaf bird of paradise and get the feeding right with the narrow-leaf bird of paradise fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full narrow-leaf bird of paradise care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my narrow-leaf bird of paradise flower?
Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make narrow-leaf bird of paradise bloom?
Give narrow-leaf bird of paradise the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does narrow-leaf bird of paradise normally bloom?
Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with narrow-leaf bird of paradise after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping narrow-leaf bird of paradise flowering?
Feeding narrow-leaf bird of paradise a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Narrow-Leaf Bird of Paradise fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library