The Kangaroo Paw flower (Anigozanthos) is locally known in its native Australia for the resemblance of the intricately curved petals of its downy inflorescences to the paw of the Australian kangaroo.

This evergreen perennial can grow to a height of up to 2 m in the wild. Its strap-shaped or lanceolate leaves form a root rosette and are colored varying shades of green. On slender stems, there are panicles of unusual flowers, which bear a strong resemblance to kangaroo paws and are colored pink, yellow, or greenish. Bicolored flowers can also occur, e.g., green-purple, red-black, green-red, or orange-yellow. The final color of the flowers is directly related to the fine hairs on their surface, and they are often found on the part of the shoot as well. This plant blooms from May to July. This plant is grown as a perennial garden in many countries with relatively mild winters.

Once cut and placed in water, it will retain its freshness for a long time. That is why it is so well-loved in compositions of all kinds. Their unusual shape and color provide a fascinating effect. The wholly dried flowers, which also retain their color, are used to create bouquets sold as souvenirs in the Kangaroo Paw' native land.

See Also:

• Cockscomb Flower – Botanical Description and Plant Care
• How to Plant Forget-me-not Flowers
• Lisianthus – Planting in the Open Air and at Home
• September Flowers – Flowers that Bloom in September

More recently, dwarf hybrids have appeared on the market that can be grown safely at home. The domestic varieties have flower stalks that can vary in length from 25 to 50 centimeters. This unusual flower grows rather slowly and, after a while, forms a strongly branched bush with many panicles of flowers. To ensure that it blooms for a long time, it is necessary to remove the flower stalks in good time.

Kangaroo Paw Care at Home

This is a very light-loving plant, and it is best to put it outside in a sunny spot in summer. If it lacks light (in the shade), the Kangaroo Paw will not flower and gradually become weaker.

Temperature control

The flower Is not afraid of heat. A little frost will not harm it, but it is not winter hardy. During the winter months, keeping it in a well-lit and cool (10-14ºC) room is advisable.

Humidity

It prefers low humidity. Grows well in dry air in flats during the colder months.

How to water

In summer water, make sure that no liquid gets onto the leaves. The flowers can drop if the soil dries out. The substrate you use must be porous so that it doesn't stagnate. Otherwise, the roots may start to decay.

Feeding

During intensive growth and flowering, fertilize the plant once every 2 or 3 weeks. Do not fertilize during the winter.

Repotting the Kangaroo Paw

Young plants do not need to be replanted. But it can be carried out if the roots do not fit in the pot. Repotting should be carried out in the last weeks of spring, and the old sprawling bush should be separated. Remember, a good drainage layer.

Earthmeal

A soil mixture suitable for Kangaroo Paw includes Sheet earth, peat, and sand. You can also use commercial potting soil for flowers, but you should add crushed bark. In the wild, these flowers are like stony or sandy soil. The heavy substrate, which hardly lets water through, is not suitable.

Resting period

The resting period of the Kangaroo Paw occurs in the winter. During this time, water sparingly and stop any fertilizing. Put the plant in a well-lit and cool room.

Kangaroo Paw Propagation

Propagation of this plant can be achieved by seed or by dividing the shrub. It is advisable to sow the seeds soon after harvesting. However, please be aware that they will not germinate for several years. The seeds should be planted in a small tray with sand mixed with peat. The first shoots should appear after 15-40 days. The germination is equally good at normal room temperature at different times of the year. Soon after the seedlings have emerged, they should be potted into individual small pots.

Only old, heavily sprouted flowers should be divided. This should be done in the spring or autumn after the flowering. Divide the root with a sharp knife and carefully remove old leaves. Trim back the leaves on the divisions to reduce evaporation by half. Do not water the cuttings, as this can cause disease to develop. Put the seedlings in a shaded area and keep them there for a few weeks.

What Threatens the Exotic Flower

The main threat to the kangaroo paw is the pest's spider mite and powdery mildew. Externally, the presence of the spider mite looks like the thinnest yellow spider web on the plant's leaves. It is surprisingly easy to get rid of this pest presence – you just need a few drops of any dishwashing detergent dissolved in water and wipe the leaves with this solution until the pest is destroyed. The cotton wool-like fuzz at the base of the leaves and the cessation of growth are signs of another problem, the powdery worm.

This enemy of kangaroo paw can be controlled with ethyl alcohol. To do this, a cotton swab is moistened with alcohol and used to treat the affected areas, then rinsed with clean water. If the plant is heavily damaged by one or the other pest, it should be eliminated to prevent the pests from migrating to other plants.

Kangaroo Paw Species

Although each of the 12 species of kangaroo paw is beautiful in its way, called Low Anigozanthos or Cat's Foot hybrids, they are more common in domestic cultivation than the species. Kangaroo Paw also comes in two varieties: tall and short. The taller species can endure a wider variety of soil and temperature types and are more adapted to their surroundings—the easiest to grow in them. The smaller types are better regarded as transient perennials and work better in containers.

Long-lived garden plants are thought to include kangaroo paw, tall cultivators. They consist of hybrids between Anigozanthos flavidus and Anigozanthos rufus group and those between Anigozanthos flavidus and Anigozanthos pulcherrimus (with blooms in hues of yellow, red, and orange) (with burgundy, bright red and orange-red blossoms).

These Australian plants grow quickly and have strong defenses against fungi. These large kangaroo paws include:

• Anigozanthos Big Red (Red) is a perennial evergreen. 0.6 to 0.9 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.8 meters high. Stunning red blossoms. Spring and summer bloom.
• Yellow Anigozanthos Bush Dawn perennial evergreen. 0.3 to 0.6 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.8 meters high. Stunning golden blossoms. Spring and summer bloom.
• Anigozanthos Bush Devil (Red) – Perennial with evergreen leaves. 0.3 to 0.6 meters broad and 0.8 to 1.2 meters high. Tiny, vivid red blossoms, spring and summer bloom.
• An evergreen plant, Anigozanthos Bush Sunset (Red). 0.3 to 0.6 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.5 meters high. Reddish-brown blooms in spring and summer bloom.
• Evergreen perennial Anigozanthos Landscape Lilac (Pink). 0.3 to 0.6 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.5 meters high. Pink lilac flowers spring and summer bloom.
• Evergreen perennial Anigozanthos Orange Cross (Orange). 1.5 to 2 meters high and 0.6 to 0.9 meters wide. Orange blossoms have spring and summer blooms.
• The evergreen perennial Anigozanthos Red Cross is native to Burgundy. 0.3 to 0.6 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.8 meters high. Reddish-burgundy florals. Spring and summer bloom.
• Anigozanthos Yellow (Yellow) is a perennial evergreen. 0.6 to 0.9 meters broad and 1.2 to 1.8 meters high. Stunning golden blossoms. Spring and summer bloom.

Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos Dwarf/Small Cultivars

The dwarf and tiny varieties of Kangaroo Paw are short-lived plants. They are the offspring of hybrids between Anigozanthos flavidus and species with brief lifespans, including humilis, bicolor, or gabrielae. Some of these cultivators of dwarf kangaroo paw flower continuously throughout the year in frost-free environments. These kangaroo paws provide excellent cut flowers for indoor centerpieces and make wonderful container plants. Among these, the following dwarf kangaroo paws stand out:

• The perennial Anigozanthos Bush Diamond (Pink). 0.3 to 0.6 m broad and 0.6 to 0.8 m tall. Pink flower stalks with fuzzy white blooms.
• The perennial Anigozanthos Bush Lantern (Yellow/Green). 0.3 to 0.6 m broad and 0.6 to 0.8 m tall. Green and yellow blossoms. Spring and summer bloom.
• The perennial Anigozanthos Bush Pearl (Pink). 0.5 m broad by 0.6 m high. On red flower stems are red blossoms. Continually blooms.
• Perennial Anigozanthos Bush Ranger (Red). 0.5–0.7 m broad and 0.6–0.8 m tall. Fluffy, pink blooms.
• Evergreen perennial Anigozanthos Kanga Burgundy (Red). 0.3–0.6m high and 0.3–0.6m broad. With crimson flower stems and red blossoms. Spring and summer bloom.

How to Plant Kangaroo Paw

Here are some general recommendations for planting kangaroo paw plants effectively, while the requirements may vary according to the variety:
● Recognize that March and October is the ideal time to plant kangaroo paws.
● Look for a location that is wind- and sun-protected with some shade.
● When selecting the site for your planting, consider good drainage.
● Fertilizer should be dug into the soil to prepare it.
● Position your kangaroo paw plant in a hole twice as big as the pot it came in.
● After adding dirt to the spot, water your kangaroo paw plant thoroughly.
● Place the plants around 80 cm apart if you intend to plant more than one kangaroo paw.

Here are some suggestions for growing kangaroo paws in a pot:
● Use potting soil that has been designed with native Australian plants in mind.
● Add some pebbles to the plant pot's top to keep moisture inside and maintain a consistent temperature.
● When necessary, especially during hot weather, top off with water.

If you start them from seed, Kangaroo paw plants will sprout after around four weeks.

Conclusion

Kangaroo paws are cold-sensitive. Bring the pots inside to a bright area with as much light as possible once it is cooler than 50 degrees F. Water the plant occasionally, keeping the soil just a little bit dry but not completely dry.

Watch your kangaroo paw plant for symptoms of ink spot disease, even if these plants don't have any significant insect or disease issues. The fungus causes the leaves and stems to turn black. To prevent the fungus, remove any unhealthy leaves and keep plants in full sunlight, with sufficient airflow, and soil that drains well.

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