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How to Grow Anigozanthos

Anigozanthos
Kangaroo paw flower also known as Anigozanthos flavidus

Anigozanthos–commonly called kangaroo paw–is an herbaceous perennial that bears unique tubular in shape, fuzzy flowers that resemble a kangaroo paw. The flowers appear on branched or unbranched stems that grow several feet above the foliage. Flower colors range from red, pink, green, yellow, and orange.

Anigozanthos has strap-like leaves and a clumping growth habit. Flower stalks can often tower over leaf clumps, some growing 5 to 6 feet tall.

Anigozanthos prefers warm, dry areas in full and well-drained soil. Anigozanthos is short-lived and will become dormant under dry conditions of late summer and fall.

Anigozanthos is a genus of 11 species of evergreen, clump-forming perennials native to Southwestern Australia.

Get to Know Anigozanthos

  • Plant type: Evergreen perennial
  • Growing zones and range: Zones 10-15
  • Hardiness: Hardy to Zone 9
  • Height and width: 24 inches (60cm) to 5 feet (1.5m) tall or more depending on the variety
  • Foliage: Lance- or strap-shaped, light to dark green leaves, and erect, slender sometimes branched stems
  • Flowers: Terminal racemes or panicles of unusual 2-lipped, tubular flowers said to resemble a kangaroo’s paw densely covered wtih red, orange, yellow, or green woolly hairs
  • Bloom time: Spring to midsummer
  • Uses: Border interest, cut flower, greenhouse
  • Common name: Cat’s paw, kangaroo paw
  • Botanical name: Anigozanthos
  • Family name: Haemodoraceae
  • Origin: Southwestern Australia
Kangaroo Paw flowers, Anigozanthos flavidus

Where to Plant Anigozanthos

  • Grow Anigozanthos in full sun.
  • Grow Anigozanthos in moist, but well-drained, humus-rich, sandy loam.

When to Plant Anigozanthos

  • Set container-grown Anigozanthos in the garden in spring or autumn.

Planting and Spacing Anigozanthos

  • Space Anigozanthos 24 to 32 inches apart.

How to Water and Feed Anigozanthos

  • Water Anigozanthos to keep the soil just moist.
  • Fertilize Anigozanthos with an all-purpose time release fertilizer in spring.

Anigozanthos Care

  • Mulch around Anigozanthos during dry weather to retain soil moisture.
  • Drip irrigation is highly recommended; poor drainage often causes early death.

Anigozanthos Pests and Diseases

  • Anigozanthus is occasionally bothered by bacterial or fungal leaf diseases.

Anigozanthos Propagation

  • Sow seed at 55°-64°F (13°-18°C) as soon as ripe.
  • Divide Anigozanthos in spring. Plants should be divided every 2 or 3 years.

Anigozanthos Varieties to Grow

  • Anigozanthus flavidus, tall kangaroo paw. Leaves 15 to 18 inches high; flowers can be yellow, pink, or red on stalks 5 to 6 feet high; most commonly cultivate species.
  • A. humilis, cat’s paw. Small species just 3 to 6 inches high with grey-green sickle-shaped leaves; chartreuse green flowers with yellow; short-lived.
  • A. manglesii, red and green kangaroo paw. Small species grows 8 to 12 inches high with light gray-green leaves; flowers are deep greed with bright red bases and stems.
  • A. rufus, red kangaroo paw. Grows 1 to 2 feet high; dark green foliage; showy deep red flowers on branches talks.

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