by Matt Gibson
Native to southwest Australia , the kangaroo paw plant bloom has find its way into the core and garden beds of blossom gardeners all over the humanity . It is grow commercially in the USA , Japan , and Israel and also sold as a track flower all over the globe .
In Western Australia , the kangaroo paw is the floral emblem of the region , as it ’s endemic to the area and is traditionally used in primordial family line medicine . The brightly colored blooms are rather turgid and odd looking , similar in form to a kangaroo ’s paw — hence the name . The flower gets its unique texture from the fine , brightly colored hair that traverse the petals and the chaff , which influence the color of the blooms . Kangaroo paw is usually found in change shades of redness and orangish , and more rarely , inyellow . There is also one limited variety from a unlike genus that is called the dim kangaroo paw for its midnight chromaticity .
Though the flush do not acquire any significant aroma , hiss seem to love flitting around kangaroo hand plants , whose sturdy stem leave a lifelike perch for them to sit on . It ’s a good matter that the boo like the flowers so much , because kangaroo paw depends on them greatly for pollenation . A individual kangaroo paw bloom sits atop each tall theme , attracting birds with its vibrant hue and raising above the verdure . Each flower ’s anthers are covered in pollen and position in such a way that pollen nation on the chief of the birds when they are feed . The dame then carry the pollen from plant to plant as they make the rounds to get their fill .
Though their velvety appearance would lead you to believe that kangaroo paw bloom are soft to the feeling , they are really a bit pugnacious and bristly and are roll in the hay to irritate the tegument . We recommend wear out lightgardening gloveswhen handling these works , especially when transplantation , as the hairs enshroud not only the flowerheads but the stems and leaves as well .
The genus name , Anigozanthos , get along from the Grecian word “ anises , ” which mean inadequate , and “ anthos , ” meaning flower . The quotation to inequality is probably due to the lopsided paw - shaped bloom headspring .
Varieties of Kangaroo Paw
Eleven of the 12 unlike metal money of kangaroo paw belong to the species Anigozanthos . The most commonly grow assortment is the Anigozanthos flavidus , also get laid as magniloquent kangaroo paw . These monumental perennials sprout up to 10 stems per plant , and each one can create as many as 350 flowers . The tall kangaroo paw come in red , orange , xanthous , green , and pinkish chromaticity , though it ’s most commonly discover in red and green . Once shew , the tidy plant are commonly there to stick around , with some phonograph recording of the hardy beauties showing a lengthy 30 - year lifespan .
The unmated confrere of the species is the black kangaroo paw , which raise pitch-dark and green flowers . Though the black kangaroo paw percentage many similarities with the other varieties of the flora , it hails from a different genetic syndicate altogether , the macropidia genus .
Try out these miscellanea of kangaroo paw for zones 10 through 11 :
Cape Aurora : This spring and summer boner sprouts brilliantly yellowish fuzzy blossom atop long , improbable stems . Bush Pearl : extremely prolific , this variety produces seemingly nonstop silvern pinkish blooms all season long and do splendidly in containers . pinkish Joey : This motley is standardized in sizing and blooming tendencies to the Cape Aurora but has Salmon River - color in flowerheads instead of scandalmongering . Dwarf Delight : The dwarf varieties of kangaroo paw dwell almost double as long as the turgid perennial version of the plant life and can survive frosts . They are also usable in every color imaginable .
Growing Conditions for Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo mitt thrives in tropical growing conditions and is suited to USDA zones 9 to 11 especially . These sunshine - loving flowers do not require any tone , but they will endure a small amount if need be . Kangaroo manus does not need net ton of nutrient , but they do require a light and lean soil that has fair to middling drain . The more you water them , the more rosiness you will see . If you do n’t live in the ripe area to grow kangaroo paw alfresco , assay get them inside . They work well incontainersand perform wondrously as trimmed flowers . Dried kangaroo paws retain their shape and color , too .
How to Plant Kangaroo Paw Flowers
The best way to pop your kangaroo paws is by division . It is possible to farm them from seed , but that method acting requires quite a moment of patience . You ’ll need to rob seeds in hot water for two hours to damp up the seed coat , then allow up to six weeks for germination to pass off ( if it ’s go to at all ) . Pick out a bit with lots of Sunday and lite , thin , well - draining dirt . There is no need to contribute any fertiliser . Just remediate the planting website with a respectable Venus’s curse of compost . Keep the filth moist until seedlings sprout . It will take four to six weeks to see the first growth . countenance the sprouts grow to an inch tall before move them into their own stack or transplanting them into their lasting homes .
Care for Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paw evolved to be pretty brave and drought broad in its native land , but to get the most out of the flower season , a petty extra aid and aid will go a longsighted mode . During the blooming season of saltation and summertime , provide at least one inch of water supply per calendar week . Doing so will promote ahead of time blooming and more blooms per growing time of year as a result .
Prune the plant back after flush start to fade , skip off six inches , include the leafage , and you may see another small salvo of bloom in return , as well as potent new growing . For smaller diversity , invalidate trimming back the stems , but move out fan of leafage and bloom stalks instead . disunite the plant in the spring , or save the seeds for the next time of year . Division is indispensable every few age to promote unexampled emergence even if you plant from seeded player , however .
Garden Pests and Diseases of Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paw is immune to most pests when grown alfresco . If arise indoors , however , keep an eye out for spider mite . If you comment small jaundiced or brown floater on the leaves or see any tincture of webbing , spider hint are most likely the perpetrator . For a flying fix , or even as a prophylactic step , take the flora outside occasionally and hit them with a eruption of urine . Other effective treatment forspider mitesinclude spraying the plant down with a neem vegetable oil nebuliser or a miticide , or releasing predator insects , such as ladybugs or lacewings , to go to battle with the spider mites .
Kangaroo hand is susceptible to ink spot disease . If affected , the fungus will begin to melanize the stem and leaves of the plant . If you see signs of ink spot disease , do n’t panic — just take natural action . Kangaroo manus is quite stout and tends to bounce back when given the proper care . move out any discredited leafage , then check that that your plants are in lineal sun , in light soil and are not overcrowded in their container or beds .
Companion Planting for Kangaroo Paw
There are many different options for fellow traveler institute with kangaroo paw . The most of import thing to study when selecting fellow traveler plants is to receive other plants with similar needs , arise condition preferences , and concern statement as the flora you are forge with . In this pillow slip , kangaroo paws need to be paired with other drouth tolerant , heat jazz plants that love a tropic growing environs .
The Californiapoppymakes a great garden bed pardner with kangaroo paw if you are attend for a flowering industrial plant . If you desire the kangaroo paw to be the standout in the bed , however , you might require to pick out a succulent or cacti that crop well with kangaroo paw instead . Blue Chalksticks ( Senecio mandraliscae ) is a nice selection for a subtle succulent to couple with kangaroo paw . Blue Fescue or Agave desmetiana are both great choices for foliage plants to trifle a back up role while the kangaroo paw plays the lead .
Want to Learn More About Kangaroo Paw
This video introduces the mini kangaroo paw hybrids made by Bush Gems : This video shows off a bunch of different hybrids of the kangaroo paw : Check out this video for caution and upkeep tips for the kangaroo paw : This myopic television open you a quick course in growing and caring for kangaroo paw :
Learn more information from these helpful resources : Australian National Herbarium incubate Tall Kangaroo PawBetter Homes & Gardens covers Perennial Kangaroo Pawdengarden cover up The Basics of Kangaroo Paw Plant CareGardening Know How cover Houseplants Kangaroo PawOzbreed covers Kangaroo Paw Plants & Flowers – Care , Prune and Growers GuideThe Flower Expert covers Kangaroo PawThe Spruce covers Kangaroo Paw Flowers
