天堂鳥屬多年生草本，原產南非。地下具有粗壯肉質根。葉片從極短的地上莖二列互生，長橢圓形，有長柄，質地堅硬。蠍尾狀花序，花序外有綠色佛焰苞片，花6~8朵；披針形橙黃色萼片3枚； 紫色箭頭狀花瓣3枚，2枚靠合成舌狀。秋冬開花，每花序觀賞期可長達2個月以上。蒴果有稜，熟後開裂。

A perennial herb in the genus Strelitzia, native to South Africa. Roots stout and fleshy. Alternate leaves emerging from short stems and forming two rows, oblong, long-stalked, and stiff-textured. Scorpioid cyme, surrounded by green spathe bracts, 6-8 flowers; 3 lanceolate orange-yellow sepals; 3 purple arrow-shaped petals, 2 of them united and forming a shape of tongue. Flowering in autumn and winter, and each inflorescence can last for over 2 months. Capsules ribbed and cracked when ripe.

全日照或半日照環境，喜微酸性土壤，種植用富含腐植質的砂質土壤，排水性需良好。以分株繁殖為主。

The plant grows in a full sun or partial sun environment, prefers growing in slightly acidic, well-drained and humusy sandy soil for planting. Mainly propagated from ramets.

天堂鳥有「自由、吉祥、幸福」的寓意，造型獨特美麗，是優質的切花材料。亦可作為庭園景觀植物或使用大型盆缽種植。

Highly valued for the unique and stunning look, the plant is given meanings of "freedom, auspiciousness, happiness"; an excellent cut flower material, for garden landscaping or planted in a large container.