kangaroo paw

Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Coral' (Anigozanthos 'Bush Coral') is a Western Australian native with velvety coral and pink flower stems held about 1m above a clump of strappy foliage roughly 60cm across. It flowers over a long season, the birds arrive within days, and it asks for full sun, sharp drainage and very little else. It is also pet friendly.

Why you'll love it

• Coral and pink flowers on tall stems. The velvety paw shaped blooms sit clear of the leaves, so the colour reads from across a garden and the stems cut well for a vase.
• Honeyeaters come to it. The flowers are built for nectar feeding birds, and a group of three or more will bring them in reliably.
• Neat, compact clump. At about 1m to the top of the flower stems and 60cm across, it fits a narrow bed, a pot or a front garden.
• Drought, heat and salt tolerant. Established clumps carry through hot dry summers on minimal water, and coastal exposure does not trouble them.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is safe where animals graze or dig.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a solid drift. Kangaroo paws look far better in groups of five or more than as single specimens, and at that spacing the clumps meet at the base.

Pots and containers. A pot 400mm or wider with free draining mix gives the control over drainage that heavy garden soil will not.

Borders, edging and coastal gardens. Use it along a sunny path edge, or on a coastal block where salt wind rules out softer perennials.

Growing kangaroo paw in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, six hours minimum, because shade gives weak stems and few flowers. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. Frost tolerance is light only, so cold districts want a warm sheltered spot or a pot that can be moved.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse sand worked through, and keep mulch off the crown, because a wet crown kills.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry weather, and use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Avoid overhead watering, since wet leaves encourage the black ink spot that marks the foliage.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems out at the base to bring on the next flush. Every second or third year, cut the whole clump back to about 10cm after flowering. It looks brutal, and the plant returns stronger.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are young divisions with a small fan of leaves and no flowers yet, and they are the value option for a drift. The 140mm plants usually flower in their first full season.

The strappy foliage travels well, though a few leaf tips may brown in transit, which is normal and trims off. Plant into free draining ground promptly and water once. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider Australian native plant range.
• See other plants that are safe for pets.
• Find companions in the mass planting collection.
• Read about bird attracting natives.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them?

Space plants 50cm apart for a drift. That is close enough for the clumps to knit into a continuous band of foliage, and open enough that air moves between them, which keeps the leaves clean.

Why do the leaves get black marks?

That is ink spot, a fungal problem encouraged by wet foliage and crowded, shaded conditions. Water at the base rather than overhead, and cut the clump back hard after flowering.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Kangaroo paw is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can be planted at ground level where pets roam freely.