Black Kangaroo Paw

Black Kangaroo Paw (Macropidia fuliginosa) is the kangaroo paw that collectors hunt for: furry black buds open to pale green flowers dusted with blue pollen, held above a tidy clump of leaves. The foliage stays under 50cm, while the flowering stems reach about 1m with a spread of around 50cm, so it fits a pot or a rockery pocket. It asks for the right spot, and rewards it.

Why you'll love it

• A flower like no other. Black fur covers the buds and stems, then the blooms open pale green with blue pollen. The species name fuliginosa means sooty.
• Flowers for months. Blooms run from winter through to summer, a longer show than most perennials manage.
• Compact, tidy foliage. The leaf clump stays under 50cm, so it suits a pot, a gravel bed or the front of a border.
• A Western Australian original. It comes from the south-west, where it grows in gravelly, iron-rich red soil and dry air.
• Made for waterwise gardens. Sharp drainage and low humidity suit it, which makes it a natural for gravel gardens and rockeries.

Where it works best

Containers. The most reliable way to give it what it wants. Use a pot at least 30cm wide of gritty native potting mix, one plant per pot, in full sun where air moves freely.

Rockeries and gravel beds. Plant 50cm apart so each clump has air around it, and mulch with gravel rather than bark. Dry air matters as much as dry soil to this species.

Waterwise garden beds. In low-humidity gardens it can live for many years. Group three or five clumps among other waterwise natives for a dark, unusual accent.

Growing Black Kangaroo Paw in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and warmth, with plenty of air movement. It evolved in low-humidity country, so it lasts well in the dry climates of the south and west and in arid regions. In humid subtropical gardens treat it as a short-lived perennial of three to four years, and give it the sunniest, breeziest spot you have.

Soil. Free draining and gravelly, like the iron-rich red soils of its home. On heavy ground, use a raised bed or a pot, because poor drainage is the quickest way to lose it.

Water and feed. Water in the morning so the foliage dries before night, which cuts the risk of fungal disease. Regular watering suits it as long as the water drains freely. Feed only with a slow release fertiliser made for native plants: this species is very sensitive to phosphorus.

Pruning. Little is needed. Cut spent flower stems back to the base and remove browned leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Black Kangaroo Paw as tube stock: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once it goes into a sunny, well-drained spot. Expect a small clump at first, which builds toward its full flowering size as the weather warms.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are 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

• Browse the full kangaroo paw range
• Kangaroo paw care guide
• Plants for rockeries and gravel gardens
• More Australian native plants

Common questions

Is it really black?

The buds and stems are covered in sooty black fur. When the flowers open they are pale green with blue pollen, so you get black in bud and green in bloom.

Can I grow it in a humid climate?

You can try, but it is shorter lived there. In subtropical regions expect three to four years, grown in a pot in full sun with good airflow. In dry climates it lasts far longer.

What should I feed it?

A slow release fertiliser made for native plants, and nothing stronger. Macropidia is very sensitive to phosphorus.