The Kangaroo Paw: Too Easy!

By Julie Boudreau

Who isn’t fascinated by the strange and unnatural? Yes, we love growing weird plants in our gardens! I am in the garden as I am in a restaurant: if I don’t know it, I take it! This is how I discovered, a few years ago, an astonishing plant, the kangaroo paw! Also called red-and-green kangaroo paw, Mangles’ kangaroo paw or kurulbrang, it is guaranteed to surprise you with its unique flowers.  

Where is It From?

With such a revealing name, you can quickly guess that the kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos spp.) comes straight from Australia. This is indeed the case. There are around 11 species of this plant, and they all occur in the southwest part of the Australian continent. The Anigozanthos manglesii is the floral emblem of the state of Western Australia, home to our adorable plant kangaroos. Our featured plant is part of a botanical family that is practically absent in North America, the Hemodoraceae. One of the particularities of this family is to generate a unique red pigment which is concentrated in the roots. The kangaroo paw therefore has red roots, like its cousins!  

Portrait of a Garden Kangaroo

The kangaroo paw that we grow in the garden is most of the time a clever mixture of different species, including A. flavidus, A. bicolor and A. humilis. In fact, this plant can reach up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) in height, but varieties grown in the garden are more often between one or two feet high (30 to 60 cm).

Without the flowers, the plant looks strangely like an iris clump. The leaves are flattened and slender. But it’s the blossoms that especially interest us. In fact, the plant takes its name from the form of the inflorescence. Flowering occurs in summer and will continue until early fall in many cases. It stands a little above the foliage in the form of a cluster. Each tubular flower is covered in bristles. It opens via a slit and reveals an interior which is generally greenish. More often, the flowers are red, but there are also varieties with yellow, pink or orange flowers.  

But Why Cultivate the Kangaroo Paw?

One of the great qualities of the kangaroo paw is its resistance to drought. Anyone who dreams of having pretty decorative containers full of flowers without having the hassle of watering every day must check this plant out.

The kangaroo paw grows in full sun in well-drained soil. You can plant it in sandy soil and it will ask for more! In fact, drainage is essential for its survival. It’s also a plant that is little affected by insects and diseases. The plant is a lovely addition to the xeric garden (drought tolerant) or even a small arrangement of succulents or cacti! It is a proud companion of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), lantanas (Lantana spp.) and also Russian sages (Salvia yangii).

Of course, its strange character gives you a very good excuse to grow a few plants, as an experiment.  

Kangaroos Love it Hot

Even though the kangaroo paw is considered an herbaceous perennial, its hardiness is limited to gardens located in USDA zone 10! Elsewhere, and particularly in northern climates, it must be brought inside for the winter, as it freezes at the first sign of a fluttering snowflake. It is therefore grown as an annual with the potential to become a houseplant.

The plant keeps quite well indoors, if it is provided with good light and temperatures that are not too hot. A window sill in a room kept at around 62F (17°C) is ideal. I would even add that where lime or lemon trees survive in your home, the conditions will be perfect for a kangaroo paw. Same as in the garden, you must pay particular attention to overwatering which should be avoided.  

Choose the Right Kangaroo

There is another plant called the kangaroo paw fern (Lecanopteris pustulata subsp. pustulata, formerly Microsorum diversifolium). It is also grown indoors, with good light, high humidity and fairly warm temperatures. Let’s say it finds happiness in a bathroom with a window.  

If we return to the kangaroo paw which interests us here (Anigozanthos spp.), let us add in conclusion that it’s a fairly unique plant and that it’s not very common on the market. Finding this plant will result in a treasure hunt in the best garden centers. But the quest is worth it. The kangaroo paw will not disappoint you!