Frost protection: bring this one back indoors before the first frosts. It loves a summer outside but is not winter-hardy in the UK.
Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold' is the yellow bird of paradise: the same crane-like flower as the classic orange Strelitzia reginae, but in golden yellow with a purple-blue tongue, rising from a beak-like spathe above an upright clump of grey-green paddle leaves.
It flowers mainly from winter into spring, with the odd bloom at other times, and makes a compact clump of around 1m by 1m, smaller than the species. It sits with the rest of our bird of paradise plants.
Care
Give it bright light, including some direct sun; a sunny window or a bright conservatory suits it well. Water freely while it is growing and keep it drier in winter, in a mix that holds moisture but drains well. Keep it above 10°C, and in summer it can go out on the patio.
Live Arrival Guarantee
All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.
Your quick reference for choosing the right plant size. We group our plants by the diameter of their nursery pots which gives you a consistent way to understand scale.
5–8cm
Mini
Small but full of charm. These compact plants are perfect for desks, windowsills, and small shelves, or for building out a collection over time. Ideal if you enjoy watching your plants grow from the beginning. Approx. height: 10–20cm
9–11cm
Small
A step up in presence, great for side tables, shelves, or styling in clusters. Easy to move around and perfect for adding greenery without taking up too much space. Approx. height: 25–35cm
12–14cm
Medium
Our most versatile size. Works beautifully on shelves, desks, and plant stands, offering a fuller look without dominating a space. A great balance between impact and flexibility. Approx. height: 25–50cm
15–18cm
Large
More established plants with fuller foliage and stronger structure. Ideal for creating soft focal points in a room. Great for corners, beside furniture, or as standalone features. Approx. height: 40–70cm
19+cm
Extra Large
Big, impactful plants designed for floors and open spaces. These are your statement pieces and are perfect for anchoring a room or transforming a corner with instant greenery. Approx. height: 60cm–1.3m
Pots that fit this plant
We recommend
How to care for Yellow bird of paradise
Let me bask in full sunshine.
In their words
What our customers say
EP
Emily P.
Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.
JR
James R.
Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.
SL
Sophie L.
Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.
Get to know me
About Yellow bird of paradise
Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold' needs bright direct light and a minimum temperature of 10°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.
Light
ShadeFull sun
Bright, direct sun
Bright light, including some direct sun. A sunny window or conservatory suits it, and it can summer outside on a sunny patio.Read moreShow less
Bright light, including some direct sun. A sunny window or conservatory suits it, and it can summer outside on a sunny patio.
Temperature
10°
0°C25°C
Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature
Keep above 10°C (RHS H1b). Fine at normal room temperature. It can go outside once temperatures pass about 21°C; bring it in before nights fall towards 10°C.Read moreShow less
Keep above 10°C (RHS H1b). Fine at normal room temperature. It can go outside once temperatures pass about 21°C; bring it in before nights fall towards 10°C.
Can it go outside?
Patio friendlySummer outdoors
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Feeding
Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.
Soil & Substrate
A moisture-retentive but well-drained mix suits it, so the roots stay damp in growth without sitting wet.
Harmful if chewed or swallowed. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children, and wash your hands after pruning.
Origins
The species comes from South Africa, from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. This yellow selection was bred at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town from a few yellow plants and released in 1994.
Family
Strelitziaceae
Also known as
Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold'
Genus
Strelitzia
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Strelitzia reginae 'Mandela's Gold'?
A yellow-flowered selection of the bird of paradise. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden released it in 1994 as 'Kirstenbosch Gold' and renamed it 'Mandela's Gold' in 1996 in honour of Nelson Mandela. The RHS treats 'Kirstenbosch Gold' as the correct name, but 'Mandela's Gold' is the name most people know it by. For the classic orange form, see our Strelitzia reginae.
Is Strelitzia 'Mandela's Gold' an indoor plant?
Yes, in the UK. It is rated RHS H1b and needs a minimum of 10°C, so it lives indoors or in a conservatory for most of the year. From late spring to early autumn it can go out on a sunny, sheltered patio.
Where is the best place to put a yellow bird of paradise?
In bright light with some direct sun, such as a sunny window or conservatory, somewhere that stays above 10°C. In summer it can move outside to a sunny, sheltered spot.
Should I water a bird of paradise every day?
No. Water freely while it is growing in spring and summer and keep it drier in winter. A moisture-retentive but well-drained mix keeps the roots from sitting wet.
When does 'Mandela's Gold' flower?
Mainly from winter into spring, with occasional flowers at other times of year. Each flower opens from a beak-like spathe in golden yellow with a purple-blue tongue.
Is Strelitzia 'Mandela's Gold' toxic to pets?
Yes. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten. The fruit and seeds cause mild nausea, vomiting and drowsiness, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.
If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.
If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.
It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.
If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.
If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.
That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.
Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.
When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.
We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.
Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.
It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.
Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.
Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.
During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.
That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.
The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Bird of paradise plants need strong light and well-drained soil to thrive indoors in the UK. This guide covers everything from watering and repotting to getting yours to flower.
Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.
Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Perfect for Gifting
From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.
Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.
Sustainability at Heart
All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.
17cm
