Yellow bird of paradise is a resilient, fast growing shrub festooned with clusters of yellow flowers. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this South American native.
Yellow bird of paradise (Erythrostemon gilliesii) is a large but airy shrub with fern-like leaves and stalks of yellow flowers from spring through fall.
It has two distinctive features — green, photosynthetic bark and unusually obvious bright red stamens that look like streamers shooting out of the yellow flowers.
Yellow bird of paradise is a low-maintenance shrub. It needs minimal supplemental water and only a yearly prune.
It is a native of the South American desert but is at home in the desert southwest (maybe a little too much at home, which I’ll cover shortly.)
When in bloom, its flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other nectar-seeking insects. It is deer and rabbit resistant.
Why I Like This Plant
- Distinctive yellow & red flowers spring through fall
- Low maintenance
- Flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees
Things to Watch Out For
All parts of yellow bird of paradise are toxic. The leaves contain hydrogen cyanide, and the seed pods contain high levels of tannins. The ASPCA lists related species as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
It usually loses its leaves in the winter in all but the warmest microclimates, and can look a little scraggly when leafless.
The seed pods can be messy. When ripe, the seeds pop out explosively and often reseed. This may be a plus or a minus for you, depending on whether you want new plants or consider them weeds.
Yellow paradise is not native to the desert southwest and is potentially invasive.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a yellow bird of paradise to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Yellow bird of paradise should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It’s exceptionally tolerant of temperature extremes.
It has a very high heat tolerance and can be grown in the hottest spots in any yard, even in Phoenix.
It will survive temperatures down to 10℉. If you have winter freezes, you can expect it to lose its leaves in the winter.
Sun Exposure
Yellow bird of paradise thrives in full sun and doesn’t mind the reflected heat from a west-facing wall.
Size and Growth Rate
Yellow bird of paradise is a fast-growing shrub that generally reaches a size of 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide.
Plants can also be pruned to look like a small tree.
Soil
Yellow bird of paradise is tolerant of most desert soil — sandy, rocky, and poor desert soil — provided it’s well-draining. Avoid growing in clay soil.
Other Location Considerations
Seed pods are messy, so don’t put this plant near a pool. Since all parts are poisonous, don’t plant it in an area where children or pets might be able to access the pods or seeds.
Yellow Bird of Paradise:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Yellow bird of paradise |
| Scientific Name | Erythrostemon gilliesii |
| Origin | Argentina, Uruguay |
| Plant Type | Semi-evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 10℉ |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 10’ high x 6’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Invasiveness | Potentially invasive |
| Toxicity | All parts toxic |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds Deer, rabbit, javelina resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant yellow bird of paradise is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Yellow Bird of Paradise
Whether you’ve recently planted a yellow bird of paradise or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your plant in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 6 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on the current size of your plant.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for yellow bird of paradise or any desert shrub you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
Should You Fertilize?
While you can fertilize yellow bird of paradise, you certainly don’t have to. They get all the nutrients they need from our native soil.
And since yellow bird of paradise is a member of the legume family (Fabaceae), these plants don’t need added nitrogen. Their roots contain bacteria which “fix” nitrogen, turning nitrogen in the air into a form plants can use.
How to Prune
Unlike its more popular cousin, red bird of paradise, which is usually pruned down to the ground every spring, yellow bird of paradise should never be hard pruned.
Yellow bird of paradise is naturally sparse. Pruning the branch ends when it’s done blooming will encourage denser growth and more flowers.
If you are concerned about the seeds’ toxicity or you’d rather the plant not reseed, you can trim off the seed pods before they mature.
Is Yellow Bird of Paradise Invasive?
Yellow bird of paradise is native to the deserts of Argentina and Uruguay, but is so adaptable it has now naturalized around the world.
Here in the US, it has escaped cultivation in these states:
- California
- Arizona
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Texas
- Oklahoma
The University of Arizona considers it invasive. It can be found growing wild along roadsides and in other disturbed areas.
Spadefoot Nursery, one of my top trusted sources for local plant information, states that this plant is particularly problematic in Arizona’s dry grasslands and recommends that gardeners in the low desert avoid planting it because its seeds travel via birds.
Look-Alike Alternative
Because yellow bird of paradise can escape into the wild, I would not plant it in my yard, especially when there is an excellent option.
Mexican bird of paradise (Erythrostemon mexicanus) is a shrub or small tree in the same genus that looks much like yellow bird of paradise. It also has fern-like leaves and yellow flowers that bloom nearly all year. It’s native to Texas and Mexico, and there are no problems with invasiveness.
Plant Lover Facts
Yellow bird of paradise goes by numerous other common names including bird of paradise, bird of paradise bush, bird of paradise shrub, desert bird of paradise, Mexican bird of paradise, and paradise poinciana.
Additionally, yellow bird of paradise has undergone many scientific name changes. The correct name is now Erythrostemon gilliesii but the former name Caesalpinia gilliesii is persistent and still commonly cited.
No wonder people are confused about the birds of paradise!
If you want further clarification of the different kinds of bird of paradise used as landscape plants, check out our article Desert Bird of Paradise Plants Compared.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
