Nicolai vs reginae — which bird of paradise do you actually want?
They share a name and not much else. Here's how to tell them apart before you buy.
Search "bird of paradise" and you'll get two very different-looking plants back. One is a towering green statement plant with huge paddle leaves and barely any visible flower. The other is a much smaller plant, known almost entirely for its striking orange-and-blue flower. Both are genuinely called bird of paradise — they're just different species, and knowing which is which makes choosing a faux version far easier.
Strelitzia nicolai — the giant white bird of paradise
This is the plant almost everyone means when they picture a faux bird of paradise in an interior styling context. Huge, banana-leaf-like foliage in deep green, growing on tall stems that can reach several metres. It rarely flowers indoors even as a real plant — and honestly, nobody buys it for the flower. It's a foliage plant, valued entirely for scale and drama.
What it's used for: statement corners, filling tall empty space, commercial lobbies and reception areas — anywhere you need serious visual height and presence.
Strelitzia reginae — the classic orange bird of paradise
This is the smaller, flower-forward variety — the one on the Los Angeles city flag, the one people picture when they say "bird of paradise flower." Slim, upright leaves and a genuinely striking crane-shaped orange-and-blue bloom. It's a much smaller plant overall, more often grown outdoors in garden beds in warm Australian climates than as a large indoor statement tree.
What it's used for: smaller decorative arrangements, faux floral stems, outdoor garden styling in warm climates.
Side by side
| Nicolai | Reginae | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Tall, bold green foliage | Smaller, orange flowering stems |
| Typical use | Statement indoor tree | Decorative flower / vase piece |
| Height (faux) | 150–180cm | Usually under 100cm |
| Best for | Living rooms, offices, lobbies | Side tables, vase arrangements |
A big leafy corner plant, the kind that anchors a living room or fills a tall empty space — you want nicolai. This is what our 150–180cm faux range is built around.
A smaller arrangement with that unmistakable orange crane-shaped bloom for a vase or side table — you want reginae, and specifically a faux flower stem rather than a leafy tree.
Our faux bird of paradise range
Broad, paddle-shaped PE leaves with natural splits and colour variation, rising from a substantial multi-stemmed base — the tall, leafy statement plant most people picture.
View the range →Frequently asked questions
Does the giant bird of paradise (nicolai) ever flower?
Rarely, and almost never indoors — it typically needs to be several years old and grown outdoors in a warm, established position. This is exactly why it's grown as a foliage plant, not a flowering one.
Is one variety more realistic to fake than the other?
Nicolai's simpler, broad-leaf form is generally easier to replicate convincingly than reginae's more delicate flower structure — part of why the faux market leans heavily toward nicolai-style plants.
Which variety is toxic to pets?
Both are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Our faux versions of either type are made from non-toxic materials and are safe around pets and children.
Ready to find your bird of paradise?
Browse our range of faux birds of paradise — realistic PE foliage, zero maintenance. Ships Australia-wide in 4 business days.
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