Kangaroo Paw Bush Diamond

Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Diamond' (Anigozanthos 'Bush Diamond') is the white flowered member of the Bush series, and white is a rare colour in a genus built on reds and yellows. Pink flushed buds open to clean white paws held above a compact clump of strappy green foliage, about 60cm tall and 50cm wide. It is small enough for a pot and tough enough for a coastal front garden.

Why you'll love it

• A colour few kangaroo paws offer. White flowers with pink flushed buds sit comfortably in any planting scheme, where the usual reds and oranges demand attention.
• Compact by design. At 60cm tall the Bush series stays in scale beside a path or in a container, unlike the taller hybrids that flop after rain.
• Honeyeaters find it fast. The tubular flowers are built for nectar feeding birds, so a massed planting brings them in.
• Built for heat and salt. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and comfortable with coastal salt spray, which suits exposed front gardens and beachside blocks.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a full massed display. At that spacing the clumps meet without crowding, and crowding is what causes the leaf problems kangaroo paws are known for.

Borders and edging. The upright flower stems above low foliage suit a path edge or the front of a native bed, where the height stays predictable.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot with a gritty free draining mix holds a clump well, and containers make it workable in cooler cities where garden soil stays wet in winter.

Growing kangaroo paw in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open air movement, both of which reduce fungal leaf marking. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and takes light frost only, so cold inland and cold southern gardens need a warm sheltered spot or a pot that can be moved.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal; on clay, plant on a raised mound 200mm above the surrounding level and open the backfill with coarse sand.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, and avoid overhead watering in the evening, since wet foliage overnight invites leaf spotting.

Pruning. This is the one real job. After flowering, cut spent stems and tired outer foliage back hard to about 100mm above the ground. The clump reshoots clean and flowers better the following season.

What to expect when it arrives

This kangaroo paw is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots supplied in packs of ten. Tubes are young single fan plants and the economical way to mass a bed, while 140mm plants are further along and usually flower in their first season.

Foliage may look creased after transit, which does not matter because the plant is cut back regularly anyway. Plant into free draining soil within a few days and expect new fans within a month in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete kangaroo paw care guide
• Browse the full Australian native range
• Compare other bird attracting plants
• Find plants suited to pots and containers

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

50cm apart for a massed display. Good spacing keeps air moving between clumps, which matters more with kangaroo paws than with most perennials.

Why do the leaves develop black marks?

Ink spot is a fungal leaf marking common to the genus, encouraged by damp still air and old foliage. Cutting the clump back hard after flowering and watering at ground level keeps it to a minimum.

Will it cope with frost?

Light frost only. In districts with regular hard frosts, grow it in a container that can shelter through winter, or give it a warm north facing position with good drainage.