Have any of you been to Garfield Park here in Indianapolis? What an absolute gem! It is an amazing spot with beautiful gardens, a conservatory and plenty of open space to stroll through. While I was there I made sure to walk through the conservatory. The best two dollars I have spent in a long time! Packed full of exotic plants like fiddle leaf figs, staghorn ferns, orchids and plumeria, do yourself a favor and check it out! This weeks Plant of the Week is inspired by my little walk through the conservatory! Lets talk about an exotic plant, the Birds of Paradise!

Why Have the Birds of Paradise

Its flowers. Period. There is no other plant that has a bloom like the Birds of Paradise, which resembles a bright tropical bird in flight or a crane head. The foliage of this plant is very tropical in appearance, resembling hosta best due to their glossy rounder leaves. However, they grow more upright than hosta and are stiffer. This plant will grow to about four feet in height, with scapes up to five feet and crowned by the beautiful bloom. Though it is not suited for our climate, this would be an incredible indoor plant for us Hoosiers!

Where to Grow Birds of Paradise

Sadly not in Indiana’s outdoors, any successful tropical plant found in Indiana will be grown indoors. However, this does not mean you should ignore this plant! Enjoy it on vacations or grow it as an indoor plant at home! The best flowering results do happen when it is planted outside. This does not mean it is a bad plant for you though! The foliage is certainly worth while and the added bonus of the flower would make this a great indoor plant. Getting the best results out of this plant requires as much sun as possible, misting its leaves and avoiding re-potting. The biggest help you can give this plant is sun, the more sun the happier it will be!

What does Eagleson Landscape Co. think?

I LOVE IT! I want one of these in my home! It is such a fun and interesting plant and a true conversation starter. I love it so much that I would rate this plant a B. Why would I rate a plant I love a B? Easy, it is a high maintenance plant and well…it does not grow naturally in Indiana. A truly wonderful and beautiful plant in its own right, it is just not made for our Midwestern state. If you want to read more about this plant here is a great website about it. If you want to learn how to care for this plant in your home here is a wonderful detailed description!