Kangaroo Paw Bush Surprise

Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Surprise' (Anigozanthos 'Bush Surprise') is a compact yellow flowering paw from the Bush Gems range, reaching about 1m tall including the flower stems and 600mm across. The strappy fan of foliage stays low and the stems carry the colour above it, so it holds a border without crowding what sits behind. Honeyeaters find it within days of the first flowers opening.

Why you'll love it

• Yellow flowers on tall stems. The blooms sit clear of the foliage on wiry stems, which is what makes kangaroo paws read from across a garden and cut well.
• Compact enough for a pot. At 1m by 600mm it fits a 400mm pot on a balcony or a front step without needing constant division.
• Dry gardens are its home ground. Drought, heat and salt tolerant, so it belongs in Mediterranean, coastal and inland gardens where water is limited.
• Honeyeaters work it hard. The nectar rich flowers pull small native birds into the garden through the flowering season.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a continuous run. At that spacing the fans knit together and the stems form an even band of colour.

Pots and containers. One plant per 400mm pot, in a free draining mix. Raise the pot on feet so water never sits underneath it.

Coastal and feature planting. It handles salt laden wind, so it suits exposed front gardens. Grouped in threes among grasses or low natives it does more than a single plant.

Growing Kangaroo Paw Bush Surprise in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and southern districts want a warm sheltered position or a pot that can be moved.

Soil. Sharp drainage is the single most important thing. Sandy or gravelly soil is ideal. On clay, build a raised mound or plant into a pot, because wet feet in winter will kill it faster than any dry spell.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only during extended dry weather. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Rich feeding and heavy mulch against the crown do more harm than good.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems out at the base as they finish. Every second or third year, cut the whole clump back to about 100mm in late autumn or winter. That removes older leaves and keeps ink spot, the black leaf marking common in humid gardens, at bay.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten. Tubes are young fans that flower in their first or second season and are the value choice for a mass planting. The 140mm packs are further along and fill a border faster.

A few browned outer leaves on arrival are normal for strappy foliage in transit. Trim them off, plant into a well drained spot, and expect flowering within the first warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete kangaroo paw care guide
• Native plants with yellow flowers
• Browse the Australian native range
• Compare bird attracting plants

Common questions

How long does it flower for?

The main flush runs through spring and into summer, and removing spent stems as they finish often brings a second, lighter round of flowering.

Why are the leaves going black at the tips?

That is ink spot, a fungal marking that shows up in humid weather or on crowded plants. Cut the affected leaves out at the base and improve airflow around the clump.

Will it grow in a pot long term?

Yes, in a 400mm pot with a free draining mix. Divide or replace the clump every three to four years, since older kangaroo paws flower less as the centre thins.