Kangaroo Paw

Kangaroo Paw 'Aussie Spirit' (Anigozanthos 'Aussie Spirit') carries green and gold flowers on stems reaching about 1m, above a clump that spreads to roughly 50cm. The colouring is the point: a far less common break than the red and orange paws, and unmistakably Australian. Honeyeaters use it heavily, and once established it lives on very little water.

Why you'll love it

• Green and gold flowering. An unusual colour break among kangaroo paws, and one that sits comfortably in a native bed instead of shouting over it.
• A metre of height from a small footprint. The clump is only about 50cm across, so it adds vertical interest to a narrow bed or a pot.
• Birds come for it. Honeyeaters work the tubular flowers through the season, and bees and butterflies follow.
• Built for hard positions. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and content in poor soil.
• Cutting flowers that last. The stems hold well in a vase, and cutting them is the same job as deadheading.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a drift. The fans meet at that spacing and the flower stems read as a band of green and gold.

Pots and containers. Containers give the sharp drainage this plant wants. Use a pot at least 300mm wide with a free draining native mix.

Feature planting and coastal borders. A single clump beside a path earns its place when the stems lift to a metre, and salt tolerance holds it near the beach.

Growing Kangaroo Paw Aussie Spirit in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun without exception. In shade you get foliage and almost no flower stems. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and arid to semi-arid gardens. Frost tolerance is light only, so in hard frosting districts grow it in a movable pot.

Soil. Free draining soil is the single requirement. Sandy and gravelly ground is ideal and poor fertility is no obstacle. On clay, plant on a raised sandy mound, because kangaroo paws rot at the crown in wet ground.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only during extended dry spells. Feed once in early spring with a low phosphorus native fertiliser. Water at the base, because wet foliage brings on ink spot.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to the base as they finish, and pull out blackened leaves. Every second or third year, cut the clump back hard after flowering, then lift and divide it. That is the difference between ten good years and three.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown in tube stock. Tubes are young plants with a small fan of leaves, and for kangaroo paws that is a genuine advantage: the root system settles into your own soil quickly rather than sitting in a ball of imported mix that stays wet.

They travel well, though outer leaves can crease or look tired after transit. Trim the damage off, plant into free draining ground, and water in. Expect a season of establishment, with the first strong flush of flower stems in the second spring. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider Australian native range
• Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Zest', shorter in gold and orange
• Bird attracting plants for a nectar garden
• Pots and planters that drain properly

Common questions

How tall does it get, and how far apart should I plant them?

Flower stems reach about a metre, with the leaf fan well below that and the clump spreading to roughly 50cm. Plant 50cm apart for a mass planting or border run.

Why are my leaves developing black marks?

Ink spot, a fungal marking brought on by overhead watering, crowding and humid still air. Water at the base, divide crowded clumps, and cut affected leaves out at ground level.

Does it need cutting back each year?

Remove spent flower stems at the base through the season, and every second or third year cut the clump hard after flowering and divide it. That keeps it free flowering.