There is a yellow flowering bird of paradise growing successfully at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. I would think it should be okay planted in a protected area (from freezing temps). If you have the orange one, you will probably need to bring it to a protected area - like in your garage) during the winter or treat it like an annual.

I have the giant white bird of paradise. I found another one at the hudson oaks walmart (it was twice the price, but they price matched it to the one in weatherford). The local nursery said that there was a bird of paradise that was hardy to texas (I don't remember the latin name, but I'm guessing it is the one mentioned by carla). I don't think that the one I have will survive here. I may experiment and plant one of them anyway.

The problem with common names is illustrated by this thread. Bird of paradise, white bird of paradise, giant bird,(Strelitzia Nicolai) is a member of the same family of bananas, gingers, and heliconia. It is an upright growing plant with successively larger leaves and can get upwards of 15 feet. It resembles a banana and produces a purple and white bloom; typically, in the fall in the deep south. The yellow bird of paradise referred to by denisew is, I think, also known as Pride of Barbados and is a shrub like plant. Completely different family of plants. The white bird of paradise is only marginally hardy in Zone 9. It won't make it in a lower zone. Temps down to 28 or so only. The yellow bird is more hardy.

Steve

Here is the one I'm talking about:

Here is the information about it from Texas Smartscape website:
Bird of Paradise
Botanical Name: Caesalpinia gilliesii
Plant Type: Ornamental Tree
Plant Form: Bushy
Light Required: Full Sun
Water Demand: Low
Plant Height (ft.): 10'
Plant Spread (ft.): 6'
Ornamental Value: Yellow/Red
Months Of Bloom: Apr - Sept
Native Texas Plant: Adapted
Deciduous/Evergreen: Deciduous
Wildlife Value: Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Notes: Small shrubby tree with lacy foliage. Blooms bright yellow flowers with red stamens all spring and summer.

Wow, that is beautiful. I should get one of those. I have the strelitzia nicolai plant. I know it is a tropical plant. I should be living on a tropical island somewhere with all the beautiful plants (used to live in South Africa and I'm used to those plants--speaking of, the strelitzia is native to there). I bought 2 pots. One had 2 plants in it, and the other had 3. I was just wondering (since it was outside and labeled for planting in the yard and not a house plant) if anybody else in my zone had planted them and had luck with it. I figured the people in the Texas forum were experts on stuff in this area. I'm fairly new to gardening (at least more than daylilies and cannas and iries).

Then there is Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima or Poinciana pulcherrima) which would most not be hardy in north Texas. Her in Zone 8b they need to be protected in the winter.

{{!gwi}}

Sorry if the post above didn't make sense, I obviously can't type that early in the morning, LOL.