Kangaroo Paws

​All winter the kangaroo paws we divided in autumn have been sending down new roots, regrowing leaves and now they are sending up flower stems for a fabulous summer display. If you have tried growing kangaroo paws before in our cold climate (Canberra and surrounding districts) without much success here are our tips which are tried and true.

1. Choose a hardier variety of kangaroo paw. Flavidus X such as Anigozanthos Big Red, Yellow Gem, Regal Claw and Orange Cross are plants that we supply at IDP nursery that are of this type.

2. Choose your site carefully. The soil needs to be deep so that the roots can grow deep into the soil to protect them from frost in winter.
 
Free draining soil is also important so that the plant doesn’t end up sitting in a puddle if we do get rain.
Full sun is best for flowering though if it is too hot a site the flower buds may get burned and drop off.
Provide a heat bank for the plant. Plant your Kangaroo Paw beside large rocks, retaining walls made of brick or rock, a sheltered area by the house or in terracotta pots which can be moved onto a patio area in winter.
Think about where the least frost affected areas are in your garden. Frost travels downhill so the higher areas of the garden will be better suited for growing kangaroo paws

3. Treat your plants well. Mulch well in winter. If leaves are damaged by frost they can be cut back hard in spring and as long as the roots are happy the plant will re-shoot vigorously in spring.
In dry winters, give extra water. These plants originate from areas with winter precipitation so they suffer if the winter is dry and will not give you the flower display you are looking for in summer.
 
Pop in to IDP Nursery (give us a call first), the Kangaroo Paws are ready to walk out the door.

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