{"product_id":"black-kangaroo-paw-macropidia-fuliginosa","title":"Black Kangaroo Paw - Macropidia fuliginosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eBlack Kangaroo Paw (\u003cem\u003eMacropidia fuliginosa\u003c\/em\u003e) 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA flower like no other.\u003c\/strong\u003e Black fur covers the buds and stems, then the blooms open pale green with blue pollen. The species name fuliginosa means sooty.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers for months.\u003c\/strong\u003e Blooms run from winter through to summer, a longer show than most perennials manage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact, tidy foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e The leaf clump stays under 50cm, so it suits a pot, a gravel bed or the front of a border.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Western Australian original.\u003c\/strong\u003e It comes from the south-west, where it grows in gravelly, iron-rich red soil and dry air.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade for waterwise gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage and low humidity suit it, which makes it a natural for gravel gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContainers.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and gravel beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWaterwise garden beds.\u003c\/strong\u003e In low-humidity gardens it can live for many years. Group three or five clumps among other waterwise natives for a dark, unusual accent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Black Kangaroo Paw in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Little is needed. Cut spent flower stems back to the base and remove browned leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/kangaroo-paws\"\u003eBrowse the full kangaroo paw range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/kangaroo-paw-care-guide\"\u003eKangaroo paw care guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants for rockeries and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eMore Australian native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it really black?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a humid climate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat should I feed it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slow release fertiliser made for native plants, and nothing stronger. Macropidia is very sensitive to phosphorus.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790179172671,"sku":"MAC-FUL-tube","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/black-kangaroo-paw-macropidia-fuliginosa.jpg?v=1792195523","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/black-kangaroo-paw-macropidia-fuliginosa","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}