Bush Crystal Kangaroo Paw

Bush Crystal Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos 'Bush Crystal') is the one to pick when you want the kangaroo paw form without the usual red and orange. It grows to about 90cm tall and 60cm wide, and sends up slender stems of white to soft cream flowers that read as light against dark foliage. It is a Bush Gems series selection, bred for garden performance rather than the wildflower trade.

Why you'll love it

• Unusual white flowers. Most kangaroo paws shout in red, orange or yellow. This one sits quietly, which makes it easier to place in a planned garden.
• Birds work it hard. Honeyeaters go straight to the flower stems, so even a small planting brings bird traffic.
• Tough where it counts. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant once settled, so hot coastal and dry inland gardens both suit it.
• Native and pet friendly. A Western Australian genus, and not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can go where the dog runs.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart so the clumps just touch. At that spacing a drift reads as one planting rather than a row of separate plants.

Borders and edging. The strappy base stays under knee height while the flower stems lift clear, which is exactly what you want along a path.

Pots and coastal gardens. One clump fills a 400mm pot well. On a coastal block the salt tolerance means it holds up where softer perennials crisp.

Growing Bush Crystal Kangaroo Paw in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day if possible. Shade produces floppy stems and few flowers. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid to semi-arid gardens, and handles light frost only, so frost prone inland districts sit outside its range.

Soil. Sharp drainage is the single most important thing. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal. On clay, build a raised bed and mix through coarse sand, because sitting wet through winter is what kills kangaroo paws.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Avoid overhead watering where you can, since wet foliage encourages ink spot on the leaves.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems right back at the base rather than partway, and the plant pushes a fresh flush. Every second or third year, cut the whole clump back hard after flowering to renew the foliage.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown: tube stock and 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tube stock is young and the value choice for a drift, filling out over a season. The 140mm plants flower sooner, and a pack of ten covers roughly 2.5 square metres at 50cm spacing.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect flower stems in the first warm season after planting, backed by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the kangaroo paw care guide for feeding, drainage and ink spot detail.
• Browse the wider Australian native range.
• Planting for wildlife: see our bird attracting plants.

Common questions

How many do I need for a mass planting?

At 50cm spacing you need about four plants per square metre. A pack of ten covers a small bed or a decent run along a path edge.

Are the flowers really white?

They range from white to a soft cream, warming slightly as the stems age. Against dark green foliage the effect is closer to pale silver than pure white.

Why did my last kangaroo paw die over winter?

Almost always drainage. These plants tolerate drought far better than wet feet, so soil that stays sodden through winter rots the crown. Mound the bed and the problem usually goes away.

Will it grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a 400mm pot with free draining mix and a full sun position. Pots dry out faster, so check the mix weekly through summer.