How to prune bird of paradise – expert tips for tidying your tropical plant

Q: I have a bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae, in a pot in my living room. It's getting a bit too big for the space and some of its older leaves have turned yellow. I'm thinking about giving it a prune – what's the best way to do so?

A: Bird of paradise plants make a statement indoors with their impressive foliage and lofty height. And in warmer climates, they also make striking additions to backyards with their colorful blooms. While pruning these plants isn't always necessary, it can be beneficial. But, a bit of know-how is needed to prevent damage.

Below, the experts share their tips for success, including advice on the right method and timing. You'll also find info on pruning the giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), a larger variety.

An expert guide on how to prune bird of paradise plants 

Keep these tropical plants looking their best with this simple guide. 

The benefits of pruning a bird of paradise plant

Pruning a bird of paradise isn't just for keeping its shape and size in check. Kiersten Rankel, an expert from plant-care app Greg, also highlights how it improves air circulation, which can reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

What's more, by removing old growth, you're allowing the plant to direct its energy towards producing new, healthy leaves and potentially more flowers, she adds. This will neaten up the appearance of your plant, too.

Kiersten Rankel

Kiersten Rankel is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast. She earned her master's degree from Tulane University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology after her undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology, also from Tulane. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and tending to her 150+ houseplants and vegetable garden.

How to prune bird of paradise plants

'When pruning, always use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts and reduce the risk of infection,' says Kiersten. 

Yellow or diseased leaves can be cut off at their base. Large, mature strelitzias may then need thinning, says Nastya Vasylchyshyna of Plantum. 'Inspect the plant for spots where leaves grow too close together, then prune one or two to reduce the foliage density.' Similarly, some leaves can be removed to reduce the plant's volume if it's grown too large. Again, cut them at the base.

Plants grown outdoors can develop cracks and tears in their foliage due to inclement weather. However, Nastya says you should refrain from cutting affected leaves off. 'As long as they’re still green, your strelitzia will use them to photosynthesize and grow.'

'Remember, while bird of paradise plants are generally resilient, they can be sensitive to over-pruning,' Kiersten warns. 'If you're unsure, it's better to err on the side of caution and prune less rather than more.' Sticking to the one-third pruning rule when cutting back healthy plant material can help prevent stressing your plant.

Finally, if your bird of paradise has bloomed, you may wish to deadhead it when the flowers have faded. 'Like with the leaves, take care to cut them as close to the base of your bird of paradise as possible, to avoid leaving protruding bare stalks,' advises Nastya. 'The remnants will dry out after some time, allowing you to remove them easily.'

Nastya Vasylchyshyna

Nastya is a professional botany expert for the Plantum app that helps identify plants and plant diseases and provides care recommendations. Her specialization is plant morphology, phytopathology, and plant physiology.

FAQs

What time of year should you prune a bird of paradise plant?

'For outdoor bird of paradise plants, the ideal time to prune is late winter or early spring, just before the new growing season kicks off,' advises Kiersten. 'This timing allows the plant to recover quickly and put energy into new growth. 

'When it comes to indoor bird of paradise plants, you can prune them year-round as needed, though spring is still the best pick.' Spring is also a good time to repot bird of paradise plants.

Deadheading can be carried out as flowers fade.

How do you prune giant bird of paradise plants?

Like the smaller Strelitzia reginae, old leaves can be removed from the giant bird of paradise by cutting them off at their base. 'If your plant suffers from brown or yellow leaf tips or edges, you can carefully trim off those unsightly bits with scissors,' adds Justin Hancock of Costa Farms. 'If you do this, I recommend following the plant’s natural leaf shape to keep it looking consistent.' This tip can be applied when pruning peace lilies, too.

Again, deadheading may be useful for plants growing outdoors ('it rarely gets enough light to bloom indoors,' Justin says). 'To keep your plant looking in tip-top shape, you can remove those flower clusters as they fade and begin to look unattractive.'

Unlike Strelitzia reginae, the giant bird of paradise forms a main trunk as it ages. If it's getting too tall, Justin says you can cut this back to the ground should you choose; 'Doing so will push the plant to produce offshoots at the base that will grow up and replace the main trunk.'

Justin Hancock

Justin Hancock is a Costa Farms horticulturist with over 25 years in the industry. A plant enthusiast and educator, he has a degree in horticultural science and has worked in garden centers and botanical gardens, as a garden designer, and in garden publishing (including at Better Homes and Gardens). He has experience gardening across the country, from Minnesota to Miami to Oregon. Justin is also co-host of the Costa Farms podcast Plant Rx.

Did you know it's also possible to propagate bird of paradise plants, to get new ones for free? Our guide covers three ways to go about it.